end of school year presentation ideas

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75 Unique School Presentation Ideas and Topics Plus Templates

Are you tired of seeing the same PowerPoints repeating overused and unoriginal school presentation ideas covering repeated topics in your classes?

You know what I’m talking about; we’ve all been there, and sat through yawn-worthy demonstrations, slides, or presentation videos covering everything from the solar system, someone’s favorite pet, past presidents of a country, to why E=mC squared.

From grade school to university, first graders to college students, we are obligated to create, perform, and observe academic presentations across a plethora of curriculums and classes, and not all of these public speaking opportunities fall into the category of an ‘interesting topic’.

Yet, have no fear! Here at Piktochart, we are here to help you and your classmates. From giving examples of creative and even interactive presentation ideas, providing presentation videos , and suggesting interactive activities to give your five minutes of fame the ‘wow’ factor that it deserves, this article is your guide!

Our massive collection of unique school and college presentation ideas and templates applies if you’re:

• A teacher looking to make your class more engaging and fun with student presentations.
• A student who wants to impress your teacher and the rest of the class with a thought-provoking, interesting topic.

A Curated List of Interesting Topics for School Presentations

Did you know that when it comes to presentations , the more students involved improves retention? The more you know! Yet sometimes, you need a little help to get the wheels moving in your head for your next school presentation .

The great thing about these ideas and topics is you can present them either in face-to-face classes or virtual learning sessions.

Each school presentation idea or topic below also comes with a template that you can use. Create a free Piktochart account to try our presentation maker and get access to the high-quality version of the templates. You can also check out our Piktochart for Education plan .

Want to watch this blog post in video format? The video below is for you!

The templates are further divided into the following categories covering the most popular and best presentation topics. Click the links below to skip to a specific section.

• Unique science presentation topics to cultivate curiosity in class
• Engaging culture and history presentation ideas to draw inspiration from
• Health class presentation topics to help students make healthy lifestyle decisions
• Data visualization ideas to help students present an overwhelming amount of data and information into clear, engaging visuals
• First day of school activity ideas to foster classroom camaraderie
• Communication and media topics to teach students the importance of effective communication
• Topics to help students prepare for life after school

We hope this list will inspire you and help you nail your next school presentation activity.

Unique Science Presentation Topics to Cultivate Curiosity in Class

Science is a broad field and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with too many topics to choose for your next presentation.

Cultivate curiosity in the science classroom with the following unique and creative presentation ideas and topics:

1. Can life survive in space?

2. Do plants scream when they’re in pain?

3. What are the traits of successful inventors?

4. How vaccines work

5. Massive destruction of the Koala’s habitat in Australia

6. Left brain versus right brain

7. What are great sources of calcium?

8. Recycling facts you need to know

9. Do you have what it takes to be a NASA astronaut?

10. The rise of robots and AI: Should we be afraid of them?

11. How far down does the sea go?

12. The stages of sleep

13. Will Mars be our home in 2028?

14. A quick look at laboratory safety rules

15. The first person in history to break the sound barrier

Engaging Culture and History Presentation Ideas to Draw Inspiration From

History is filled with equally inspiring and terrifying stories, and there are lessons that students can learn from the events of the past. Meanwhile, interactive presentations about culture help students learn and embrace diversity. 

16. Women in history: A conversation through time

17. The sweet story of chocolate 

18. A history lesson with a twist 

19. The history of basketball 

20. The origin of the Halloween celebration 

21. AI History 

22. What you need to know about New Zealand 

23. 1883 volcanic eruption of Krakatoa 

24. Roman structures: 2000 years of strength

25. The most famous art heists in history 

26. Elmo: The story behind a child icon 

27. 10 things you should know before you visit South Korea 

28. 8 things you didn’t know about these 8 countries 

Health Class Presentation Topics to Help Students Make Healthy Lifestyle Decisions

Want to learn how to engage students with healthcare topic ideas? Then consider using these templates for your next interactive presentation.

According to the CDC , school-based health education contributes to the development of functional health knowledge among students. It also helps them adapt and maintain health-promoting behaviors throughout their lives. 

Not only will your presentation help with keeping students engaged, but you’ll also increase class involvement with the right slides.

The following examples of health and wellness interactive presentations include fun ideas and topics that are a good start. 

29. How to look after your mental health?

30. The eradication of Polio

31. How to have a healthy lifestyle 

32. 10 handwashing facts 

33. Myths and facts about depression

34. Hacks for making fresh food last longer 

35. Ways to avoid spreading the coronavirus

36. Mask protection in 5 simple steps 

37. Everything you need to know about the flu

38. All about stress: Prevention, tips, and how to cope 

39. The importance of sleep 

40. Is milk tea bad for you?

41. How to boost happiness in 10 minutes

42. How dirty are debit and credit cards 

43. Why do you need sunscreen protection

Data Visualization Ideas to Help Students Present Overwhelming Amounts of Data in Creative Ways

Data visualization is all about using visuals to make sense of data. Students need to pull the main points from their extensive research, and present them by story telling while being mindful of their classmates’ collective attention span.

As far as student assignments go, storytelling with data is a daunting task for students and teachers alike. To keep your audience interested, consider using a non linear presentation that presents key concepts in creative ways.

Inspire your class to be master data storytellers with the following data visualization ideas:

44. Are we slowly losing the Borneo rainforest?

45. Skateboard deck design over the years

46. Food waste during the Super Bowl

47. The weight of the tallest building in the world

48. Infographic about data and statistics

49. Stats about cyberbullying

50. How whales combat climate change

First Day of School Interactive Activity Ideas to Foster Whole-class-Camaraderie

Calling all teachers! Welcome your new students and start the school year with the following back-to-school creative presentation ideas and relevant templates for first-day-of-school activities.

These interactive presentations grab the attention of your students and are remarkably easy to execute (which is the main educator’s goal after all)!

51. Meet the teacher

52. Example: all about me

53. Self-introduction

54. Tips on how to focus on schoolwork

55. Course plan and schedule

Give our class schedule maker a try to access more templates for free. You can also access our presentation-maker , poster-maker , timeline-maker , and more by simply signing up .

56. Interpreting a student’s report card (for parents)

57. Introduction of classroom rules

58. Assignment schedule

59. Daily planner

60. Course syllabus presentation

61. How to write a class presentation

Topics to Teach Students the Importance of Effective Communication

Visual media  helps students retain more of the concepts  taught in the classroom. The following media topics and infographic templates can help you showcase complex concepts in a short amount of time. 

In addition, interactive presentation activities using these templates also encourage the development of a holistic learning process in the classroom because they help focus on the  three domains of learning:  cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. 

62. Interactive presentation do’s and don’ts 

63. How to create an infographic 

Recommended reading : How to Make an Infographic in 30 Minutes

64. How to improve your internet security and privacy

65. What is design thinking?

66. What are your favorite software tools to use in the classroom? 

Presentation Topic Ideas to Help Students Prepare for Life After School

One of the things that makes teaching a rewarding career is seeing your students take the learning and knowledge you’ve instilled in them, and become successful, productive adults.

From pitching a business idea to starting your podcast, the following topics are good starting points to prepare students for the challenges after graduation (aka adulting 101):

67. How to make a resume

68. How to start a startup

69. Credit card vs. debit card

70. Pros and cons of cryptocurrency

71. How to save on travel

72. How to do a SWOT analysis

73. How to pitch a business idea

74. Habits of successful people

75. Starting your own podcast: A checklist

Find out how a high school teacher like Jamie Barkin uses Piktochart to improve learning in the classroom for her students.

Pro tip: make your presentation as interactive as possible. Students have an attention span of two to three minutes per year of age. To keep minds from wandering off, include some interactive games or activities in the lesson. For example, if you conducted a lesson on the respiratory system, you could ask them to practice breathing techniques.

Maintain eye contact with your students, and you’ll get instant feedback on how interested they are in the interactive presentation.

Make School Presentation Visuals Without the Hassle of Making Them From Scratch

School presentations, when done right, can help teachers engage their classes and improve students’ education effectively by presenting information using the right presentation topic. 

If you’re pressed for time and resources to make your school presentation visuals , choose a template from Piktochart’s template gallery . Aside from the easy customization options, you can also print and download these templates to your preferred format. 

Piktochart also professional templates to create infographics , posters , brochures , reports , and more.

Creating school-focused, engaging, and interactive presentations can be tedious at first, but with a little bit of research and Piktochart’s handy templates, you’re going to do a great job!

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26 Fun and Memorable End of the School Year Celebration Ideas

The end of the school year is a time that is very busy for most classrooms. Here are some end of the school year project ideas, end of the year gift solutions, celebration tips, and diplomas.

Plus, I’ve found a set of alphabet countdown ideas to help make the end of the school year fun with a different thing to do or incorporate each day.

These end of the year ideas as so creative, I know you’ll just love them. Most are very simple or can be simplified to meet your classroom needs.

End of the School Year Projects

1. Screamin’ Good Year – This tutorial was originally created to show a fun idea for summary writing. I think the large photo piece is so beautiful and would make for an excellent end of year display.

My spin on it is to change their writing portion to a “screamin’ good year.”

Have students write about their favorite classroom theme or trip or summarize their year in school. {Free download}

2. Create a Class Quilt – Here is a beautiful example of how you can create a class piece to bring the entire class together for an end of the school year project.

This quilt was made with handprints in order to fit the alphabet, but you could easily input your own artwork or writing ideas with beautiful borders to tie it all together. What a statement!

3.  “I’m a First Grader” Photo Shoot – Set up a photo area to snap a fun set of end of the school year photos. Have each student hold up a speech bubble that says, “I’m a ___ grader!” to celebrate their moving onto the next grade level.

This is a quick idea that parents are sure to love.

4. End of the Year Election – Get students thinking positively about their classmates by describing them in an end of the year election.

Let them think of the funniest, happiest students and to nominate them for the election.

Tabulate the results for some end of the year fun. {Free download}

5. School is Cool – Get students reflecting on their year and have the year in a snapshot piece. This is a craft with a girl and boy template for students to write what they like best about the school year. The sunglasses really make this project a keeper!

Have you already got your end of the year teacher shirt? Here are my current favorites. Hurry – there’s still time to order.

6. Hallway Countdown – If you celebrate any type of graduation for your grade level, start a countdown in the hallway.

This idea was designed for kindergarten, but why not host your own mini-graduation ceremony in your classroom with red bulletin board paper as your red carpet to celebrate the end of a hard working year! {Free download}

7. Memory Gift Books – Create a collection of items that our students have made over the length of the school year {get those files cleaned out}.

When you add a poem and a picture of you and your student together you have a very personal, meaningful gift together.

Bind or assemble to make it special and a gift for each student.

8. Memory Books – There are tons of memory books and pieces available to create your own template. During the last weeks of school, making books that are like personal yearbooks is a great plan.

This activity fits well in between the craziness that we all find our selves in the last weeks of school.

9. Bulletin Board Displays – Bring on the end of year cuteness with a sailing inspired bulletin board display. Have your students’ photo displayed along with the title, “Sailing into ___ Grade.”

10. Handprint Poem (Kindergarten) – This cute project will also work for an end of year parent gift or make a great page in a memory book.

Students add their handprints into the empty space on the page or could mount this onto a larger piece of construction paper with handprints beside. {Free download}

End of the Year Gifts

11. Teacher Poem – Send your students off with a poem from the teacher to remind them that they are special. Pair this with a picture of you and your students, or a photo with you and each student one on one.

Sign it to make it personal and you’ve got a simple, meaningful gift. {Free download}

12. Create Parent Gifts – Use a beginning of the year assessment piece and it’s comparative end of the year piece as a gift for parents.

This tutorial shows you how to laminate two pieces of writing side by side to show growth and remind parents of how much they’ve learned.

13. Learning With Toys – Here is a great step by step set of toys to put together to give as student gifts (with a tip on getting books at a fraction of the price).

This tutorial gives you a printable for kindergarten that explains each toy and how it can have educational value for over the summer fun. {Free download}

Host a Celebration

14. End of Year Celebration Invitations – Are you planning a celebration at the end of the year and inviting parents?

This printable set includes summer themes that are bright and fun!

You can print on these in Powerpoint too making them print and go. {Free download}

15. Celebration Event – Here are some great tips on hosting and end of the school year celebration event. Includes photos of table displays, student gifts and how to make it a smooth event.

16. Luau – Have and end of the school year luau. Host fun activities throughout the day that fit a Hawaiian theme and pass out small favors like leis to your students as a gift.

Here are some stations that are designed for kindergarten as sample ideas.

Take multiple photos throughout the day to put together as a gift for each student.

17. Camp Read a Lot – This week long idea will transform your classroom during one of the last weeks of school.

Find different lesson plan ideas to do each day with your students to keep it fresh and to keep them excited and engaged. Most of all, I love that this one celebrates reading.

Such a clever idea using probably lots of camping gear you already have in your closet.

18. Photo Slideshow – If you put together a slideshow for your students to show the last days of school, here is a list of music suggestions and titles that might be a great fit.

Also, a great list if you create parent gifts of CD’s filled with photos from the school year.

19. Kindergarten Graduation Event – If you are planning on hosting a kindergarten graduation event, here is a cute craft to create.

Use simple shapes to create graduation kids.

Add a quick little poem or tag to make this a keepsake.

End of Year Awards and Diplomas

20. Diplomas – Most often if graduations are held at the end of a school year, they are done in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten.

Here is a quick glance at how a teacher uses diplomas and her classroom management tips for making the day work. {Free download}

21. Awesome Awards – Don’t you just love the sound of this one? I love this idea since it makes students focus on the positive attributes of other classmates as they create awesome awards for one another.

Great idea for any grade level! {Free download}

End of the Year Countdown

22. Countdown Balloons – Decide how many days you’d like to countdown, and set up that many balloons as a colorful display in your classroom.

Place a special activity idea inside each one {love that these ideas could all be free!} and keep them guessing what kind of fun could be in store!

23. Countdown Printable – This clever countdown printable set will cover you for the end of the school year and then some!

You’ll be able to show how many days are left in school by placing this printable in a photo frame and writing on it with a dry erase marker. {Free download}

24. ABC Countdown –  When you come down to the last 26 days of school (or less if you combine days) there are so many fun options to celebrate in small fun ways each day.

Here is an editable version of a parent note and an ABC countdown for you to use and make your own. {Free download}

25. Alphabet Countdown Calendar – Turn your last month into a countdown calendar for students with a fun theme or activity for them to look forward to each day.

Your creativity of coming up with titles to match a letter of the alphabet is all it takes to make this idea happen. You can do all of them for little to no money. {Free download}

26. The Alphabet Countdown – Want to see more options for ideas of things to do with each letter of the alphabet as you count down your last 26 days of school?

Brainstorm with your students to create a list to fit their interests or use these ideas. {Free download}

Get more alphabet countdown ideas for kindergarten here.

Ready to finish out the year strong? Check out these 17 Simple End of the School Year Student Gifts and Writing Activities .

Thanks to these teachers for their free downloads and ideas that are creative and memorable.  Your ideas are fabulous! Feel free to grab the “ I’m a Featured Teach Junkie ” blog button as your creations are definitely worth the shout out.

More End of the School Year

• How to Send Home Work SIMPLY {End of the Year}
• How to Manage the End of the Year Behavior
• 17 Simple End of the School Year Student Gifts and Writing Activities
• End of Year Gift Idea… Fun, yet Academic!

Teach Junkie

Leslie {aka the original Teach Junkie} loves learning new things to make teaching easier and more effective. She enjoys featuring creative classroom fun when she's not designing teacher shirts, making kindergarten lesson plans or planning her family's next trip to Disney World.

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8 Epic Ideas for Ending the School Year

Give your students a year-end sendoff that celebrates their learning.

Our time is important. The kids that we teach are precious to us, and they need to know that our time together was worth it. So don’t just let the year end: Celebrate learning, celebrate the moments you’ve had, and savor the time you have left together.

At the end of the race, we like to hear cheers, and when kids graduate, it’s a climactic event. Really, the end of every school year should be climactic. It should be exciting. So, as teachers, we have to be very careful not to let the bell ring and have kids wondering what just happened. The end of the school year should be a time of review, reflection, and celebration. Here are eight ideas for making it epic.

1. Make a Top 10 List

Dave Burgess suggested having kids make their Top 10 list of what they had learned during the school year. (Think David Letterman.) Have them reflect on their best learning experiences during their time with you, and then have a little party so kids can share all of their lists.

2. Host a “Celebration of Learning” Final Exam

Todd Finley told me about a college professor whose students took their final exam in a room filled with food, decorations, and the promise of a celebration. In classic professorial style, he conducted an experiment. The students in the celebratory class had higher test scores on their final exam. I know we often plan our party to be on a different day than the final exam, but if you think about it, students really are celebrating and learning when they’re taking that final.

3. Don’t Pack Up Too Soon

Angela Watson reminded me in a recent conversation that we don’t need to take the decorations down too soon. It sends the wrong message. But when we do, we can let kids celebrate. Turn taking everything down into a fun event done as close to the last day as possible. (Think slam-dunk basketball.)

4. The Bottle of Dreams

This is the one that I’m working on this year, adapting from John Berray’s original idea . John says, “I bring in bottles of water, one for each student. I tell each student to grab a bottle and crack the lid but not to open it. Many guess that a toast is coming... and they’re right! I embellish the farewell address with thoughts and advice, and conclude it with challenges and requests. I recognize there’s a good probability this might be the last time we ever speak, so it needs to be meaningful. The moment is bittersweet.”

5. Compliments and Kindness

The most meaningful year-ending event happened in my daughter’s fourth-grade class. Two weeks before school ended, each student’s name was listed on the top of a separate sheet of paper. Each paper circled the class and the other students wrote genuine compliments. The teacher typed up the compliments on a piece of paper and put it in a clear plastic stand. The students then cut up the pictures that had been placed on the wall throughout the year to embellish their personal memory. My daughter still has it—and she’s in college.

6. Survey Your Students to Celebrate the Memories

Survey your students. (See 3 Ways of Getting Feedback to Improve Your Teaching .) Include a question about their greatest memories. Turn the answers into a word cloud and display it on the board during your final class celebration. You can also create your own Top 10 list from the answers (see above).

7. Write Your Students a Letter

Write each class a letter. Dr. Tony Kline told me that his students often save his class letters. One summer, a young lady came back at the end of the summer and asked for another copy after her little brother had spilled a soda on it. Now, Tony laminates these letters so they’re “brother proof.”

8. Plan an Oscars Event

This is another Dave Burgess idea . Roll out the red carpet. Have students plan the culminating event. Imagine an Oscars-type ceremony where they can give awards for the year’s best books, best student presentations, and most epic classroom moments, and where their classmates can respond with Oscars-style acceptance speeches. They can even dress up. What fun!

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End of the School Year Activities for Memorable Fun

Find tons of end of the school year activities for the classroom in this post. Plan the end of school with themed days, a countdown, gift ideas, games, bucket lists, and more!

As the end of the school year approaches, it’s time to plan some fun activities, lessons, and gift ideas for your students. I’ve searched high and low and came up with 30 end of the school year activities for the classroom. I think you’ll enjoy these creative ways to celebrate and close out the end of the school year too!

Table of Contents

End of the school year themed days.

• End of the School Year Countdown Ideas

End of the Year Arts and Crafts

Play games at the end of school, student celebrations for the end of the school year, end of the school year gift ideas for students, summer bucket list, end of year outdoor activities.

• Fun Learning

Getting Organized at the End of the Year

End of the year social-emotional learning resource, free summer reading booklet, more end of the school year ideas, 30 end of the year activities.

You and your students have worked hard all year, and you all deserve to have a little fun during the last few days! I have scoured the internet (hello  Pinterest ) and gathered awesome ideas from my teacher/blogger friends to bring you the best ways to celebrate the end of the school year.

There are themed days, countdown ideas, arts and crafts, games to play, gift ideas, outdoor lessons, bucket lists, lesson plans, party ideas, and organization tips.

1. The weather is hot, and the kids want to vacation. So, why not create a vacation within the classroom? Here’s an idea for a beach-themed day .

2. Themed days are so much fun for kids and throw excitement into your daily routine. Here are 12 theme ideas: camping, STEM, water, game, holiday, sports, decades, art, travel, and more.

End of the School Year Countdown Ideas

3. A countdown chain is just a simple paper chain that you can use as a visual reminder of the days remaining. But with a cheery cloud and bright colored paper, it will be a fun daily task.

4. During the final days of school, celebrate with “Days of You.” Each child gets a day devoted to them and receives kind words written on an anchor chart and special privileges on their day.

5. Another way to countdown the last few days is by popping a balloon each day . Inside is a special privilege or activity to do together, such as having a scavenger hunt, dance party, ice cream or treat day, or another type of end-of-the-year pre-summer fun.

7. Create an end of the year memory book keepsake together. This is a fun way to fill those last few weeks with memories and connections as kids put together their yearbooks!

6. The end of the school year is conducive to activities that keep excited little hands busy. What better way than art activities such as these !

7 . Minute to Win It is a popular game based on the TV show. Here are some fun tasks to try out in your classroom to replicate the game.

8. Kids love candy; this candy ball game is a blast. The laughter and screams of delight will make the other classrooms down the hall jealous during this fast-paced challenge to get the candy out of the ball.

9. Get kids chatting about their summer plans and even learning things about each other they may not have known in this fun e nd-of-the-year BINGO game .

10. If you teach kindergarten, an alphabet party is the “P” erfect “P” lan! Label items with the letter they begin with, and you’ve got “P is for Party”!

11. Students’ hard work deserves praise. They will love these end of year awards, certificates, and hats that show how proud you are of them.

12. Brighten your bulletin board with a display that celebrates each child in the classroom. The Garden of Greatness wall will remind students of their uniqueness and individual accomplishments.

13. Create  goodbye stars with your students, and include them in their goodbye bags on the last day of school. They give each child positive encouragement and kind thoughts to take home with them over the summer.

14. Use Windows Live Movie Maker to create a gift DVD for your kiddos. They will enjoy watching a slideshow of photos from the year set to music. You could even show the movie during an in-class celebration of learning at the end of the school year.

15.  Looking for a unique keepsake idea? Try this  fun photo idea . It includes a FREE printable survey to get teachers organized and kids writing!

16. Create a “Then and Now” bulletin board . Not only is it a great way to decorate your classroom walls at the end of the school year, but the photos also serve as a nice gift for your kids (or their parents) on the last day of school.

17. A sweet little gift is a character rock on which you write a word that describes a child’s character. Paint the rock with bright colors and bold lettering, and the child has a keepsake that bolsters their self-esteem.

18. Don’t have much time to make a DIY gift? These slap bracelets are fast, easy to assemble, and a slappin’ good fun!

19. A resourceful gift is to encourage kids to have a bright summer with these sunglasses .

20. Tell your kids how proud of them you are with the sentiment “You blew me away” and some bubbles .

21. Give your kids summer packets in buckets ! Buckets are a creative way to take home some things you hope they’ll continue to practice over the summer to avoid the summer slump.

22. Make those buckets extra special for kids with some of  these ideas !

23. Avoid the summer reading slide with this  summer reading resource booklet . It includes a bucket list of creative places to read that kids can check off as they do them. Grab one for free below!

24. Keep them writing and practicing word work over the summer with these printables stuffed into their buckets!

25. Go outside for the simplest ways to make the last few days memorable ! Try blowing bubbles, creating with chalk, and more!

26. Plan a field trip! Take kids on a school bus or walking field trip to the park, zoo, aquarium, or someplace connected to what you’ve been learning about in the classroom.

Fun Learning

27. Science and Language Arts can be all about summer, too! Try out this summer unit , where kids can learn all about honeybees, sunflowers, and starfish.

28. Let kids clean their desks with bubbles ! Not only does it get the desks clean, but it is also fun!

29. Get ready for back-to-school NOW!  Here are some tips  to start thinking about ahead of time.

30. Go ahead and organize, print, and prepare supplies and resources for the beginning of next year . You can even let the kids help you!

31. If you want to create an end-of-the-year portfolio for your kids, why not make it spectacular ?

These 30+ fun ideas for planning the end of the school year in your classroom will keep you and your students busy during those last weeks of school. As the countdown to summer begins, try some of these activities, and let me know what you think!

Classroom Resources for the End of the Year

The end of the year social emotional learning resource is the perfect companion to your last few weeks of school lesson plans. It includes mini-lesson ideas, printable templates, and engaging activities that reflect on the connections made in the classroom.

The SEL end of the year resource   and activities will encourage discussions amongst your kids about kindness, memories they’ve had throughout the year, friendships they’ve built, and goals they have for their future.

Download and print this summer reading booklet to encourage your students to read over the break. You can download it for FREE by clicking the image below.

Student Awards

End of the School Year Activities

Last Day of School Activity: Goodbye Stars

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at 12:43 pm

Thank you for sharing my post!! 🙂 This is a great round-up!!

You are so welcome! Love your bucket ideas!

Excellent ideas. We can even pick some ideas to gift out students on upcoming children’s day celebration. Our school throws a big party every year and we kept on thinking what to gift but this post will really help many of us. Thanks

Wow, these ideas are SO awesome! My assistant and I will definitely include several of your suggestions (along with our final day Bubble Run)! Thank you heaps!!!!

What is the candy ball game (#8)?

Your content is very impressive and thanks for sharing this article. its very useful.

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100 Unexpected Last-Day-of-School Activities Your Students Will Love

Send them off for summer with a smile!

Woohoo! It’s finally here—the last day of school. While most kids are going to be super excited, others may have mixed emotions. Make your last hours together extra special with some of these fun last-day-of-school activities, and send your students into summer with fantastic memories of the school year behind them!

1. Stage your own classroom Olympics

What better way to wrap up a great year than with your very own version of the Olympic Games? Your kids will love the pomp and circumstance, from the opening ceremony and challenging events to the winners on the medal podium.

Learn more: Classroom Olympics

2. Read end-of-year read-alouds

Teacher Brenda Tejada knows that the end of the school year is a time of mixed emotions. “Students have worked hard all year and are almost at the finish line,” she says. “Some may be excited for their summer vacation, while others may feel anxious to say goodbye.” Her book list and accompanying activities are a sure bet to help ease the transition. 

Learn more: Books That Are Perfect for the End of the Year

3. Hold a rousing trivia contest

Kids love a good round or two of trivia, and online sources make prepping a trivia contest easy and customizable. Check out the resources below. Or go old-school and check out our huge selection of trivia questions.

Learn more: Hilarious Online Trivia Games for Kids at Let’s Roam and 100 Trivia Questions for Kids in all Grade Levels at We Are Teachers

4. Chalk it up

Grab those buckets of sidewalk chalk and head out to the playground! Encourage students to draw memories from the past year, write shout-outs for friends and staff members, or just draw for the pure joy of creating something.

Learn more: Awesome End of the Year Activities

5. Take a meaningful walk

Teacher Courtney G. shares: “The kids from our high school wear their caps and gowns and walk the halls in their elementary school the day before graduation. They go from kindergarten to fifth grade as the students stand in the halls and clap. The fifth graders also do this on the last day of school before they leave elementary school. This is my sixth year teaching kindergarten at my school, so my first kinders are now fifth graders. I’m probably going to cry!”

Learn more: Grad Walk

6. Make Genius Hour presentations

Genius Hour, sometimes called Passion Pursuit, in the classroom is an opportunity for students to explore their own unique interests in a loosely structured but supported way. On the last day of school, let each student teach the class what they have studied and learned.

Learn more: What Is Genius Hour and How Can I Try It in My Classroom?

7. Play Classmates Bingo

It’s one last chance for students to learn a little something new about their classmates! Grab a free printable with get-to-know-you clues at the link, or design your own to better fit your class.

Learn more: End of the Year Bingo

8. List what you’ve learned from A to Z

What a great way to look back over what kids have learned! For each letter of the alphabet, have them write and illustrate something they learned or did throughout the year. Hit the link below to get a free printable template for this project.

Learn more: What I’ve Learned A to Z

9. Set up summer pen pals

Before you break for the summer, pair your students up as pen pals. Gather students on the rug and talk about what being a pen pal looks like. Draw names and let each pair spend some time together brainstorming ideas about what they’d like to write about.

Learn more: Summer Pen Pals

10. Go to the beach

Or rather, bring the beach to you! This will take some planning and prep, but kids are seriously going to love it. Get all the tips you need at the link.

Learn more: Beach Day

11. Pass the plate

Pick up a pack of paper plates and give out some colorful markers. Have each student write their name in the middle of the plate, then start passing! Each student writes complimentary words to describe their classmate, then passes it to the next kid. They’ll each end up with a sweet keepsake for the school year.

Learn more: Pass the Plate

12. Do a legacy project

According to the teacher team at Minds in Bloom, a legacy project is a lesson that students create, from objective and materials to procedures, to share with next year’s students, like this fun science project.

Learn more: Legacy Projects

13. Make ice cream

Ice cream parties are popular last-day-of-school activities, but here’s a sneaky way to add some STEM learning to the fun: Have kids make their own ice cream in a bag, then add some toppings and lay it out on the grass to enjoy.

Learn more: Ice Cream in a Bag

14. Make friendship bracelets

Load up on embroidery floss and let your students loose! They’ll love creating a keepsake that reminds them of this special year every time they look at it.

15. Build roller coasters

STEM challenges make terrific meaningful and fun team activities for the last day of school. Try building a DIY roller coaster from drinking straws, or check out lots of other STEM challenges here .

Source: Roller Coaster

16. Give pop-up toasts

Here’s a chance to practice public speaking in a low-key way. Buy some ginger ale and plastic champagne glasses to turn class into a party. Then have kids compose and give a short toast to their friends, teacher, school year, or any topic you choose.

Learn more: Pop-Up Toasts

17. Set up game stations

Set up game stations and give students time to rotate through each station. Try games like Marshmallow Madness, Scoop It Up, and more at the link below!

Learn more: Game Stations at Minds in Bloom

18. Host a lemonade tasting

There’s all kinds of tasty learning worked into this totally sweet idea! Kids taste pink and regular lemonade, then make graphs, write descriptions, learn vocab words, and more.

Learn more: Lemonade Tasting

19. Do an in-house service project

Organize your students into teams and leave your school better than you found it. Weed the school garden, write thank-you letters to school staff members, pick up litter outside, help take down hallway bulletin boards. Or see if specials teachers (music, art, P.E., library) need any help getting organized for the end of the year.

20. Compete in a paper airplane contest

You know they want to be outside, so take advantage of that and hold the ultimate paper airplane competition. Kids compete in multiple categories, like distance and accuracy, to find the overall winner.

Learn more: Flyin’ to the End of the Year

21. Serve up a scoop of memories

What a sweet way to celebrate the end of the school year! Make paper ice cream sundaes, with a different memory on each scoop. You can have kids draw these themselves or buy a printable version at the link below.

Learn more: Ice Cream Scoop Memories

22. Set up a photo booth

Photo booths are popular for the first day of school, but they’re terrific for the last day too. Help kids capture memories with their friends before they part for the summer.

Learn more: Student Photo Booth

23. Wear a Last Day of School crown

Little ones will love coloring and cutting out their very own Last Day of School crown. Check out the link below to buy the printable, or design your own.

Learn more: Last Day of School Crown

24. Create a summer bucket list

Provide kids with lots of options, then have them compile their own bucket lists for the summer days ahead. In addition to fun items, encourage them to add ways to help others or learn something new.

Learn more: Summer Bucket List

25. Put the year in a bag

This has to be one of the most fun and meaningful last-day-of-school activities. In the days leading up to the final day, have kids give some thought to what symbolizes this past school year to them and place their ideas in a labeled paper bag. On the final day, they’ll give the other students a small token of that symbol and explain their thinking. (They don’t need to buy anything; they can write or draw their symbol instead.)

Learn more: Year in a Bag

26. Take a book-themed museum walk

For this project, students create a project that provides a sneak peek of one of their favorite books. They can create posters, dioramas, trifolds, or even dress up as a main character. Give students a couple of weeks to prepare their project at home, then hold your museum walk on the last day of school as a grand finale to the year.

Learn more: Museum Walk

27. Conquer an escape room

Kids love escape rooms, so they’re great activities for the last day of school. Theme yours to what you’ve learned during the year, facts about different classmates, or summer activities. Learn how to set up a classroom escape room here.

28. Dance up a storm

If you’re looking for fun last-day-of-school activities that get kids moving, hold an epic dance party! Consider having each class submit a song selection for the playlist. They could even choreograph their own special dance moves for when it comes on! We’ve also got fantastic end-of-year playlist ideas for you right here.

29. Send your wishes soaring

Follow the tutorial below to make paper kites with your students. Have each student write down their hopes and dreams for the future (or alternatively, their favorite memories of the school year) on their kites, then go outside and have a launch party.

Learn more: How To Make a Kite

30. Go on a scavenger hunt

Scavenger hunts can be not only educational but also a blast! Click the link below for creative scavenger hunts to use in the classroom or send home with students for the summer. To get started, download these free scavenger hunt worksheets .

Learn more: Free Scavenger Hunt Ideas

31. Play last-day-of-school charades

Reminisce about what a fun school year you’ve had together with a rousing round of charades. Create cards from categories including academics (math, reading, social studies, etc.), experiences (field trips, assemblies, special days, etc.), or anything else you want kids to remember about your year together.

Learn more: How To Play Charades

32. How about a little drama?

Skits are a fun, easy, and low-prep way for kids to use their imaginations. Check the link below for 10 silly, age-appropriate skit ideas.

Learn more: 10 Funny Skit Ideas for Kids

33. Create scrapbooks

The last day of school is a bittersweet time. Give your students some time to reflect on and write about their experience so they can hold onto favorite memories.

Learn more: End of Year Memory Book at Teachers Pay Teachers

34. Have an autograph party

This little autograph book is the perfect addition to your end of year activities. Your kids will love signing their name for all their friends.

Learn more: End of Year Autograph Book at Teachers Pay Teachers

35. Play Math Raffle Ticket

Students work in partners or groups. Math problems are projected and students solve them together. For every correct answer, they receive a raffle ticket. Prizes are awarded at the end.

Learn more: Math Review Game: Raffle Ticket

36. Belt it out with classroom karaoke

Push the desks to the edges of the classroom (after you’ve cleaned them with shaving cream—see #41, blow), and let your little songbirds loose! Or divide your class in half and have a sing-off.

Learn more: Kids Karaoke on YouTube

37. Make welcome brochures for next year’s students

Have your students create brochures for next year’s students, telling them all about the fun things they’ll learn, experiences they’ll have, and all the best parts about your grade. At the start of next year, you can set a brochure on each desk as a welcome present for your new crew.

Learn more: How To Make a Paper Brochure

38. Rate the teacher

Discuss with your students what makes a great teacher, and then have them rate you! Their comments will help you grow. They’ll feel honored you listened to their feedback, and you can demonstrate a growth mindset right in front of your own students.

Here’s how to get the look: Rate My Teacher Survey at Teachers Pay Teachers

39. Have a juggle-fest

Check out this great video tutorial on juggling, then head outside to practice! Your students’ laughter and cheers will be a great memory to take away from the last day of school.

Learn more: How To Juggle with Josh Hartman via YouTube

40. Play board games

Whether it’s cooperation, strategy, academics, or just  fun , there’s a game for that. And what could be more perfect for the last day of school?

Learn more: Best Board Games for Kids, According to Teachers

41. Clean desks with shaving cream

Tackle those filthy desks and make it look like play. Believe it or not, shaving cream is one of the best ways to get desks looking brand-spanking clean, and kids love it! Plus, check out more ways to clean your classroom .

Learn more: Shaving Cream Desk Cleaner

42. Have a glow party

A glow party is a super-fun way to celebrate the last day of school. Get out your black lights and pass out the glow sticks. Details in the link below.

Learn more: How To Host a Glow Day in Your Classroom

43. Have a bubbles day

The last day of school is all about fun, and what’s more fun than bubbles? Blow bubbles, write about bubbles, even indulge in a little bubble gum.

Learn more: Bubble Fun Day

44. Play Minute To Win It games

These clever games are really fast-paced and fun for both students and teachers.

Learn more: Low-Prep Minute To Win It games

45. Hold a “Trashketball” tournament

Looking for a fun way to review materials that is easy to set up and super fun for your kids? Then Trashketball is the game for you. And what better way to wrap up the last day of the school year than a review of all the fun subjects you learned about?

Learn more: Trashketball

46. Produce a volunteer talent show

And the key word here is volunteer . Not every kid is a natural ham, but almost every kid in your class probably has a talent that, with a little coaxing, they could share.

Learn more: Unique Talent Show Ideas

47. Hold a puzzle competition

See who can assemble a jigsaw puzzle the fastest.

Learn more: Jigsaw Puzzles We Love at We Are Teachers

48. Have a water day

Celebrate the last day of school with a splash! Check out the super-fun activities at the link below. And of course, what better way to end water day than with Popsicles?

Learn more: Splashtastic Water Activities at We Are Teachers

49. Do a read-in

Your kids worked really hard this year. Why not reward them with a read-in day? Invite them to bring cozy blankets, stuffed animals, and, of course, their favorite books. Then laze about the classroom and get lost in a good book.

Learn more: Celebrate Success With a Read-In

50. Set up STEM stations

Encourage learning all the way through the finish line! Use the link below to find a whole array of amazing activities to set up as stations for some hands-on fun.

Learn more: STEM Stations

51. Set up art stations

You provide the supplies and your students bring their imaginations. Put on some fun music, set up art stations, and let them create!

Learn more: Art Stations

52. Put together a time capsule

A super-fun project to commemorate a great year together. Kids can fill it with mementos from the year, words of advice, favorite memories, and more.

Learn more: How To Make a Class Time Capsule

53. Create a pom-pom drop

Use cardboard tubes and tape to create a vertical track on the wall. Then drop pom-poms (or small balls) and see if they can make it all the way through. If not, make adjustments. Split students into groups and make your tracks in a large space like the gym if possible.

Learn more: Pom-Pom Drop

54. Host a poetry slam

Slam poetry is a unique form of expression that allows students to perform meaningful works of poetry in front of their peers. Give students a heads up and time to practice before the last day of school, then hold the slam as the culminating event.

Learn more: 25 Slam Poetry Examples

55. Play old-school recess games

These oldies (but goodies) to play with your kids on the last day of school will leave you feeling nostalgic for sure.

Learn more: Old-School Recess Games

56. Give each other a pat on the back

Pair students up and have them tape a piece of paper to each other’s backs. Once everyone is ready, give students time to mingle and write a positive comment or compliment on each of their classmate’s sheets. What a heartwarming keepsake to wrap up the school year!

Learn more: A Pat on the Back

57. Honor every student

End-of-year awards have been around forever. But instead of making it a competition for a chosen few, here’s a way to include everyone. Recognize academic and social-emotional skills with these fun colorful certificates.

Learn more: 50 Free Printable Awards for Students

58. Head off on a virtual field trip

Just didn’t have time (or money) to get around to that great field trip you had in mind? No problem! Get out the popcorn and kick back with a fun and interesting virtual field trip.

Learn more: Amazing Virtual Field Trips

59. Hold a book swap

What better way to prepare your students for summer reading than with a student-recommended book? Give students (and parents) a heads up a couple of weeks before the last day of school, asking them to bring in a gently used book that they would recommend. (Be sure you have a few extra books on hand just in case.) Draw numbers and let students choose or play the white elephant gift-swap game.

Learn more: White Elephant Gift Exchange at White Elephant Rules

60. Make fireworks T-shirts

These fun and colorful T-shirts are easy to make, and they take on a tie-dyed look over time. Perfect for the Fourth of July and all summer!

Learn more: Sharpie T-Shirt

61. Tag a graffiti wall

Graffiti walls are an awesome way to encourage kids’ creativity. Why not give them free rein to record their favorite memories from the school year on the last day of school?

Learn more: 20 Engaging Ways To Teach With Graffiti Walls at We Are Teachers

62. Brainstorm a list of summer activities

Send your students home for summer brimming with ideas for summer fun and learning. Either make a class poster with contributions from everyone or have each student create their own.

Learn more: Summer Activities

63. Have a classroom cleanup

Cleaning out your classroom at the end of the year may be a dreaded task, but it’s much easier with lots of hands to help. Assign tasks to students to make the process more efficient, or even turn it into a game! Students can do things like pick up trash, wipe their desks, take down bulletin boards, and organize bookshelves. Be sure to have a fun activity planned as a reward.

Learn more: Classroom Cleanup

64. Set up a writers workshop

Try this activity if your group loves writing. Set up writing stations directions such as: Create a scene from a play, write a story about you as the president, write a poem about your favorite season, create and describe your own brand-new holiday, etc. For extra fun, have a different snack at each station, and every so often take a break to share a few stories they’ve produced.

Learn more: Writing Prompts at We Are Teachers

65. Make it a Yes Day

It seems like the average day in the classroom involves way more no’s than yes’s. Make an exception and declare the last day of school a Yes Day.

Learn more: Yes Day at Teachers Pay Teachers

66. Declare a silly-string battle

Super fun and totally harmless. Right before you send them off, let the silly string fly! This school even involved their student resource officer.

Buy it: Silly String

67. Take the road to adventure

Read Wherever You Go by Pat Zietlow Miller and ask your students to think about the next road they want to take to new adventures. Then have them create posters showing their dreams.

Learn more: Road to Adventure

68. Hold a color parade

Ask your students to wear their favorite color to school on the last day of school—head to toe if possible. Then have a parade around the school grounds. If the whole school can participate, have each class dress in a different color. Add zany accessories and have a blast!

Learn more: Color Parade at Rock Hill Schools

69. Compare “All About Me” answers

This is such a poignant activity if you had your students fill out an “All About Me” paper in the fall. Give them a fresh copy and have each student fill theirs out. Then, pass out the ones from fall and let them see how much they’ve changed or stayed the same.

Learn more: All About Me Worksheets

70. Put together a year-in-review timeline

This is a fun (and educational) way to do a walk-through of your year together with your students. Tip off your students the day before and ask them to come to the last day of school with ideas.

Learn more: End of Year Time-Lines and Top 10s

71. Do origami

Paper folding is so much fun! Take an ordinary square of paper and turn it into a bunny or a bear or a silly face. Let kids sit with friends and create to their heart’s content.

Learn more: Simple and Super Fun Origami for Kids

72. Write thank-you notes

There are so many people that contribute to our kids’ education. Aside from the classroom teacher, you have the librarian, nurse, specials teachers, principal, custodian, and others. Take a few moments at the end of the year for your students to write to their favorite staff member and spread some feel-good vibes around the building.

Learn more: Examples of What To Write in a Teacher Thank You Card

73. Get creative with a round of Pass the Sentence

This is a well-known classroom game. Give each student 30 seconds to start a story with one sentence on a piece of paper. When the timer dings, have each student pass their paper to the student on their right. Now students have 30 seconds to add the next sentence to the paper they’ve been handed. Do as many rounds as you’d like. Then have the original author read the story that has developed from their beginning.

74. Build bridges

Team kids up to design and build the strongest and longest bridge out of Popsicle sticks and model magic to span desks in the classroom.

Learn more: STEM Bridge Challenge

75. Try these “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” activities

Dr. Seuss’ inspiring book Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is an end-of-year favorite for many teachers. Use it to inspire your students to think about their goals and possible pathways for the future. For this idea and more, check out the link below.

Learn more: Best “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” Activities at We Are Teachers

76. Have a class picnic

Nothing breeds companionship like sharing a meal. Hold a class picnic on the last day of school and let your kids enjoy each other’s company one last time.

Learn more: Our Class Picnic

77. Celebrate summer birthdays

Summer birthdays can be a bummer for kids who like to celebrate with their classmates. Why not have one big birthday party on the last day of school to include everyone? Try one of the fun ideas at the link below.

Learn more: Celebrating Birthdays at School at Lucky Little Learners

78. Have a movie day

The promise of a movie on the last day of school is a great motivator to inspire the best behavior from your students those last few weeks. Let your kids choose the movie, and on the last day, supply the popcorn and enjoy!

Learn more: Spectacular Summer Movies for Kids

79. Tell jokes

Celebrate the last day of school with a few laughs! We’ve got a whole list of super-silly summer jokes for kids .

80. Plant the seed for service learning

Your students are going to (hopefully) have some free time on their hands this summer. Encourage them to spend at least a portion of it helping others. Better yet, challenge them to (and even join them in) a 30-day service challenge .

Learn more: Meaningful Service Learning Ideas for Kids and Teens

81. Rock out!

Set the tone for a celebration on the last day. Try one of these awesome playlists and have a dance party, or use the music as a background for some fun activities.

Learn more: Apple Music Playlists for the Classroom

82. Use these last-day-of-school printables

Looking for quick and easy last-day-of-school activities? Download these free printables and let your students choose the ones they like best.

Learn more: 10 Free Printables To Celebrate the Last Day of School

83. Start an end-of-year tradition

Start a new tradition that you love to end the school year with. We were inspired by a teacher that took snips of his beloved spider plant and started new plants to give to each of his students at the end of the year.

Learn more: Teacher’s Plant Tradition

84. Play math games

One sneaky way to keep the learning going, even on the last day of school, is with fun and engaging math games. Set up stations and let kids choose which ones they’d like to play with their friends.

Learn more: Math Games for Every Grade Level

85. Make bookmarks

As kids head off for summer, reading a ton of books is hopefully high on their to-do list. Get them excited for it by making some of these adorable bookmarks.

Learn more: Adorable DIY Bookmarks

86. Go outside and play!

It may not officially be field day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a few of your students’ favorite activities on the last day of school! Take a peek at the list below and revisit a few of your favorites.

Learn more: Best Field Day Games and Activities

87. End the year on a kind note

Download these free worksheets and sow the seeds of kindness in your community.

Learn more: Free Bundle of Kindness Worksheets

88. Try some drawing tutorials

How-to drawing books are always a big hit with kids. Here, teach your students how to draw a dragon, step-by-step. See the other fun options below.

Learn more: Draw a Dragon , Draw a Cat , Draw a Dog

89. Do a playground cleanup

End the year with a good deed. Give your students compostable bags and send them off to clean up the playground and fields around the school. Set the reward for the cleanup as a Popsicle party!

90. Set them up for summer reading

Share this free roundup of our must-reads for kids. Print the list off and send it home with students to give them inspiration for summer reading.

Learn more: 100 Famous Children’s Books Every Child Should Read (Plus, Free Printable)

91. Do yoga

Have a last-day-of-school yoga party. Push all the desks to the sides, or better yet go outside. Make it easy with the free printable cards below.

Learn more: 15 Easy Yoga Poses

92. Just chat

Sometimes the best gift we can give our kids is just time to be together. Give your kids a lot of freedom on the last day. Let them sit with friends, let them talk more than usual. Try to have at least one meaningful exchange with each student to savor over the summer.

93. Invite families in

Open up the classroom the last hour of the day and invite families to sit in your final classroom meeting. Be sure to have a talking stick on hand so everyone doesn’t talk at once. Go around the circle and let each student and their parent/caregiver share one highlight or something they’re grateful for from the year.

94. Hold relay races

Relay races are a fun, mildly competitive activity that kids love. Go outside for a little more space, or see if you can reserve a time slot in the gym.

Learn more: 30 Creative Relay Race Ideas To Try

95. Take a hike and make nature bracelets or crowns

If the weather cooperates, get outside with your kids! Take along a roll of masking tape and put a bracelet of tape on each student’s wrist, sticky side out. As you hike, encourage students to add beautiful leaves, berries, or flower petals to their bracelets. To make crowns, simply use card stock to shape a crown, then stick tape to the outside and proceed as above.

Learn more: Nature Bracelets

96. Make giant snowflakes …

You may be wondering what giant snowflakes have to do with the last day of school and beginning of summer. Well, nothing! But that’s what lands them on our “unexpected” list of activities for the last day of school. Plus, they make fun parting gifts.

97. … or giant flowers

OK, flowers would be more seasonally appropriate. And they also make beautiful parting gifts.

98. Do a round of shout-outs

Print and pass out these colorful shout-out cards. Then give students time to really think about who they’d like to say thank you to. Once everyone is done, circle up and have students read their cards aloud. Or if you’d rather, collect the cards and read them for your students.

Learn more: Student Shoutouts

99. Learn and create handshakes

If you’re looking for no-prep last-day-of-school activities, watch this fun video. Then pair students up and let them create their own version. At the end, have each pair perform their handshake for the class.

100. Say goodbye for now

Last days of school can be bittersweet, that’s for sure. End on a sweet note with this sweet tale. Or try one of these 10 End-of-Year Read-Alouds.

Buy it: Goodbye for Now

Loving these fun activities for the last day of school? Take a look at these end-of-year assignments and activities for every grade .

Plus, sign up for our free newsletters to get all the latest teaching tips and ideas, straight to your inbox.

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Fun Last-Day-of-School Activities to Wrap Up the Year

Hooray, you’ve made it to the end of the school year! With all testing and grading out of the way, it’s time to think about planning some fun last-day-of-school activities. The final days of school are a time to reflect on the year’s accomplishments, celebrate, and say goodbyes. Make your last day together extra special with one of these fun activities that are sure to send your students off to summer vacation with a smile on their faces.

Fun Last-Day-of-School Activities to Kick off Summer Break

Here are some engaging last-day-of-school activities you can consider adding to your repertoire.

Write letters to next year’s students

Are you looking for a last-day-of-school activity that will engage students in a productive writing task and meaningful reflections? Try having them write a letter to next year’s class! In these letters, current students can share their memories from the past year, give a sneak peek of what next year’s class will learn, and give them advice for the school year ahead. Your students will love being able to share their thoughts and advice from their own experiences in your class.

Words of Wisdom – Letters to Future Students by Life with Mrs Wasik Grades: 1-6

End of Year Activity – Letter to A Future Student – End of Year Writing Project by The Creative Classroom Grades 5-9

Create a memory book

End-of-year memory books are a great activity for students of all ages to reflect on their progress and memories from the past school year. Plus, they make for a great keepsake to take home on the last day of school. Check out one of these fun, no-prep memory book activities to get you started. 

End of the Year Memory Book {Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade } by Haley O’Connor Grades: K-2

End of the Year Memory Book {Not Grade Specific} by Michael Friermood – The Thinker Builder Grades: 2-6

END OF YEAR ESL Memory Book Activities PRINT and EASEL by Diana Bailey Grades: 5-8

End of the Year Writing Activities and Memory Book EDITABLE Distance Learning by Tracee Orman Grades: 7-12

Set goals for the summer

With summer vacation (literally) right around the corner, you can use the final day of school to get students thinking about some of the goals and activities they’d like to accomplish this summer.

Summer Bucket List: Last Day of School & End of the Year Fun Activity by Enhance SEL Grades: 1-8

Summer Bucket List End of the Year Activities by The Scholar’s Source Grade: 3-11

End of School Year Reflection Pages and Goal Setting for Summer and Next Year by Success in Special Ed Grades: 7-10

When the tests are all taken, and the assignments all handed in, it’s time to get crafty! These end-of-school year craftivities are a great way to engage students and to sneak a little more writing and fine motor skill practice into the last day of the year.

End of the Year Sunglasses Bulletin Board Craft and Writing Activity | Last Day by Sweet for Kindergarten- Kristina Harrill Grades: PreK-5

Last Day of School Activities | Last Day of School Crown Craft | End of Year by Second Grade Smiles Grades: K-3

Activities for the Last Week of School

Need activities to cover the entire last week of school? We’ve got you covered. To make your life a little easier as the school year comes to a close, check out these low-prep activities to help you get through the last week!

Last Week of School Activities for Second Grade (2nd) by Cara’s Creative Playground Grades: 2

End of The Year Activities – Last Week of School Resource by Addie Williams Grades: 6-8

End of the Year Activities – Last Week of School Fun for Middle and High School by Cara McLeod Grades: 5-10

End of the Year Activities for Seniors High School Playlist Last Week of School by The Supported Teacher Grades: 11-12

Other Ideas for End of the Year

For more ways to end the school year on a high note, browse end-of-year resources on TPT or check out these posts for more ideas:

• End-of-Year Review Activities for Elementary and High School Students
• Celebrating Student Success: End of the Year Awards for Students
• Escape Room Ideas and Templates for Every Classroom

• Middle School
• High School
• Social Studies
• Social-Emotional Learning
• Back-to-School
• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
• Autism Acceptance Month
• Black History Month
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Pride Month
• Indigenous Peoples’ Month
• Women’s History Month

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25 Must-Do End of the Year Activities {and a FREEBIE}

I came home from school yesterday and cried. 

And not because the end of the year is so overwhelming, busy, and exhausting… {although that may be where part of the tears are coming from. JK! #AmIJustKiddingThough??}

But because I’m going to miss my kids SO much. 

For 180 school days, 23 of my third grade students and I have laughed, cried, worked hard, learned so many new things together, and have built some really amazing relationships with one another. 

I’ve watched them grow not only as readers and mathematicians, but in their growth mindset, their confidence and in their character. 

We became a family. 

And this is why the end of the school year is HANDS DOWN my favorite part of the year. We get to have more fun together this time of year, especially with the classroom/family culture that we built. #RelationshipsFirst

And not that we don’t have fun all year long through different classroom transformations , math games, math puzzles , centers, book clubs, group projects, and such…BUT NOW we can really have fun, enjoy each other’s company so much more, relax a bit more because IT IS the end of the year. 

__________________________________

End of the Year Activities

So what activities do you do with your students at the end of the school year?! I’m going to share a list of 21 end of the school year activities that I’ve done with my students. I would love to hear if you have done any of these end of the year activities/themes or if you plan on trying one or more of them! Definitely comment and let me know below!

1. End of the Year Activities: STEM Day

STEM Day is one of my student’s favorite end of the year themed days. During the school year, we have STEM Fridays—where my students will work in table groups to complete a STEM challenge. I literally NEVER have any absent kiddos on Friday because they don’t want to miss the Friday STEM challenge. So, having a STEM Day during the last week of school was a no brainer. These free summer STEM projects are perfect!

2. End of the Year Camping Day

Okay, this day is super fun and might be one of my favorites for sure, for sure. I turn our classroom into a mini campsite and my students engage in various Math and ELA camping themed activities. I use the end of the year review activities from this unit . I wrote a detailed blog post about my camping room transformation. You can read all about my Camping Themed Day here .

3. End of the Year Game Day

Game Day is super, super easy to implement and you don’t have to do anything. YES and YES. Students bring in their favorite board game or card game, then I give them time to play! Easy. You can choose their groups for them if you want to, or you can have them choose their own groups.

4. Peer Compliments Paper Bag Activity {Class Culture}

I saw this idea on instagram from @hello3rdgrade and instantly became obsessed with it! So how it all works….each student gets a gift bag, which is taped to the whiteboard. Each student also gets a ziploc bag with an index card for each of their classmates.

Then across the span of a the last few weeks of school or so, each student writes a fun memory, a nice message, or a favorite thing about that person. Then, they drop the index card into that person’s giftbag. On the last day of school, each kiddo gets to read all of their notes and take their baggie home.

5. End of the Year Math Review Puzzles

Have you heard of Unravel the Fact math puzzles?

Dude. If you haven’t..YOU ARE MISSING OUT {in my opinion, of course *winkie face emoji hehe}

Before I get into how these math puzzles actually work, just know these math puzzles are perfect for  end of the year math review  a nd keeping your students engaged while their minds are thinking about ALL THINGS summer!

How do these math puzzles work?

The MAY/End of the Year EDITION of these cross-curricular Unlock the Fact Math Puzzles reveal facts themed around holidays in May. Your students will  answer  the 9 math problems, put the puzzle strips in order from LEAST to GREATEST. If they have answered the problems correctly and have placed the numbers in order correctly, an interesting fact will be revealed. They will have “unlocked a fact”. Cool, right?!!

Content Integration + Self-Correcting Math Puzzles = Happy Teacher and Engaged Students. BOOM.

What themes/facts are featured this month?

Each set of Unravel the Fact Math puzzles include themed facts around that month. The following are included in the May/End of the Year unit:

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, National Space Day (facts about Planets), National Astronaut Day (facts about Astronauts), National Tuna Day (facts about tuna), National Shrimp Day (facts about shrimp), National Bike Day (facts about history of bikes), National Train Day (facts about history of trains), Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, Kentucky Derby, National Egg Month, National Love a Tree Day (facts about trees)

If you’re interested in these puzzles, the 3rd grade version is available here and the 2nd grade version is available here .

6. A-Z Reflection Book for End of the Year Reflection {Freebie}

So basically, this A-Z end of the year reflection book is an activity for students to….well…reflect on their school year haha and write down their favorite things, favorite memories, things they learned, etc.

For example, they could write “A is for arrays. In math, I learned to use arrays to figure out the answer to multiplication equations.” Then, students would draw a picture of an array.

The A-Z end of the year booklet can be done individually or as a class.

If you want to grab the free download of this printable book and try it out with your class, just click HERE .

Art Day is also another really fun day because sadly, I don’t often have time to do many art projects or crafts throughout the year. For Art Day, I ask our fabulous art teacher to borrow some paint, watercolors, pastels….I bring out my construction paper, markers, all the works and have my kids GO TO TOWN.

Have you done Shaving Cream art in your classroom before?! That’s also a fun art activity!

Speaking of shaving cream, have you used shaving cream in your classroom to clean student desks?! Oh boy! Check it out here .

8. Beach Day/Pool Day

Another amazing idea from the GRAM! I saw this on Insta a few weeks ago from Juan (@teaching3rdwithmrg), a third grade teacher, and thought it was pure genius because it’s so simple yet such a memorable & fun day for the kids.

How does this work? Invite your students to bring in small pool floats, beach towels, snacks and reading material, of course. You can move all of your desks and tables to the perimeter of the room so that you have a big open space in your classroom for “the beach” or “pool area”. You can give your students time to laugh and chit chat for a bit while they “relax” by the pool, then get settled in to begin reading by the pool. So fun! I love it!

9. Beach Ball Summer Keepsake

I gave each of my students a beach ball and we used sharpies to sign each other’s beach balls. I’ve seen other teachers use frisbees and hats, too!

10. Animal Research Project

My students worked on their animal research project until the very last day of school! This was the perfect project for keeping my kids busy and engaged. My students chose an animal to research {I didn’t let anyone research the same animal}. They used books and sites like World Book Online and PebbleGo to research their animal. They had a choice of making posters or a brochure. The templates for both the poster and brochure are from this unit .

Here’s an example of a poster one of my third graders made. This is the front of her poster. On the back, she talks about the Life Cycle, Adaptations, and other Fun Facts about her animal.

11. Make S’Mores with Solar Ovens {So freaking fun!}

I did this with my third graders and we seriously had THEEE BEST time. You can check out this blog post to read about our Solar Ovens.

12. Create a Graffiti Wall

I actually haven’t done this one yet but it looked way cool so I had to include it in this end of the year must-do list! I really feel like creating a Graffiti wall in your classroom is perfect for when your bulletin boards become bare as we are closing out the school year. I always feel so bad taking everything off of the walls because the classroom becomes so sad looking. THIS IS THE SOLUTION.

Instead of having the walls totally bare {and slightly depressing} , you can put up some white or light-colored butcher paper on the wall, and have markers available to your students. They can then write shout-outs for their peers, write about fun school memories, write what they loved about third grade or whatever grade level you teach, what they loved learning this school year…the list goes on!!

13. Chalk It Up, YO!

Dude. This one is so easy and so fun. Who doesn’t love playing with chalk? I grab tons of chalk and take my students outside. My students write nice messages or shout-outs to their friends or other teachers in the building, draw or write about memories from the school year, they write out math problems and have each other solve them, and some kids just free draw. We literally just had fun with chalk!

14. End of the Year Letter to Future Students

In the past, I’ve had my students write a letter to next year’s class by giving them advice about 3rd grade, their favorite things about 3rd grade, some things they learned this year, what to expect, their FAVORITE things about Mrs. Morie {that’s me hehe} or what you should know about Mrs. Morie { she doesn’t tolerate messy desks, so keep your desk clean! 🙂 }

Here’s a great post about End of the Year Letters and a free template.

15. Sandcastle Craft and Writing Activity

This one is really cute. Students will solve the math problems in order to build a sandcastle. Then, will complete the a writing activity that ties into the craft. Check it out here – differentiated options available, too, like basic addition and subtraction within 20, two digit addition and subtraction with regrouping, three digit addition and subtraction, two by two multiplication, & basic multiplication and division!

16. Telling Time PBL Craft and Writing Project

As students read or listen to the story about Rudy’s trip through Europe, they will follow the directions and times for her train rides in order to build the train and her itinerary. Check it out here .

17. “Teach” the Teacher

The student and teacher SWITCH roles. The student will now become the teacher and teach a lesson. The student will have 15 minutes to teach the class and you, the teacher, something. They will plan the lesson prior to their assigned day and teach the class how to do something or make something. Some examples include: how to make slime, how to jump rope, how to make a paper airplane, how to do a magic trick, origami, teach words in another language, teach a card trick, etc…

18. Free End of the Year Partner Math Games

Review all those math standards from the school year in this Tic-Tac-Toe style math game. I have free sets for 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 4th grade. Grab them here .

19. More Math Review Activities – Around the Room Math Hunt

I am obsessed with these. These task cards are so unique and so much fun. As they students solve the math problems, they will generate a silly story, sort of like a mad lib. Check out 2nd grade here , 3rd grade here and 4th grade here .

20. Fraction Friend for End of the Year Review

Want a creative and fun way to review fractions? Check out this little cutie of a fraction friend! You can check it out here in more detail.

21. Word Problem Crafts – Build a Butterfly

Ooooh! This is a fun, yet rigorous one! So, your students will solve the word problems in order to build an adorable butterfly craft! They will find their answers on the butterfly pieces sheet (this is naturally a self-checking activity because if problems were answered correctly, they’ll see their answers on the pieces). Then, they will be able color, cut out the pieces, and build their butterfly! You can find the 1st grade set here , 2nd grade here , 3rd grade here and 4th grade here .

22. Passion Research Project

Have your students choose a topic. Once you approve the topic, they can begin researching their topic and create a Google Slides presentation. Then, students will take turns presenting. Kids always LOVE doing this!

23. Paper Airplane Challenge

Have students participate in a paper airplane building STEM challenge! Students can work in partners or a small group. They will plan how they’re going to build their paper airplane, they may plan to build 4-6 different types of paper airplanes. Then, they’ll build and test out their paper airplane. You can choose to have different challenges: farthest, longest hang time, etc. Here’s an article you may find helpful about this challenge.

24. Build a Mancala Board

I LOVE playing mancala! Have you played before? It’s a great strategy game and perfect for kids to learn how to play and extend their critical thinking.

You can start by reading an article about the history of Mancala (you could even just project this article onto the screen). If you wanted, you could have students take out a piece of notebook paper, draw a bubble map and record some of the main ideas and main points from the article. Then you can show them this video on how to play Mancala.

Here’s a read aloud on YouTube that goes hand in hand with this activity. The author even shares her time growing up in Ethiopia.

Lastly, students can build their own Mancala game using egg cartons! You can ask families to send in egg cartons. Here’s an article that explains how to make the game out of egg cartons. Once students have finished making their Mancala boards (this may take a day or two), they can begin playing. You could even have a tournament if you’d like!

25. Make Ice Cream!

Okay, this end of the year activity is always a hit for sure. Have your students make ice cream as a STEM activity. Here’s an article that shows you how to make ice cream in a bag.

Well. All good things must come to an end. That’s the end of my 25 Must-Do End of the School Year activities! I hope you found this post helpful and were able to get a few ideas for how to end your school year! 

I’d love to hear what kinds of things you do in your classroom at the end of the year OR if you tried any of the ideas from this list!

Sending hugs and good vibes your way🧡

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10 Ideas for Reflecting at the End of the School Year

Inspired by Times articles and features from across sections, these exercises can help both students and teachers think about their growth.

By Katherine Schulten

Last fall we began the school year with 10 ideas for building community , all of which were inspired by Times features. Now, as the academic year comes to a close, we’re making another list, one both teachers and students can use — ideally working together. Below, 10 ways to reflect on the year that was, think about what you learned, note how you grew and changed — and consider what it all means for next year.

We are also publishing a companion writing prompt to which we invite both students and teachers to respond. The prompt echoes the exercises below, and we invite you to share any part of your thinking that you’d like to make public.

Happy almost-summer, and thank you again for teaching and learning with The New York Times.

Start with a journal.

Do you ever journal? According to this Times article , scientific studies have shown a regular practice can help with both physical and mental health:

There are the obvious benefits, like a boost in mindfulness, memory and communication skills. But studies have also found that writing in a journal can lead to better sleep, a stronger immune system , more self-confidence and a higher I.Q .

Even if it’s not a regular practice for you, you might use a journal as a private space to focus on these reflections, responding to any of the prompts or exercises that resonate with you.

Here are some of the questions we’re posting in our related forum that might help you get started:

What do you want to remember about this school year? Why?

What surprised you?

What challenged you?

What successes are you most proud of?

What did you learn, whether in or out of school?

How have you grown?

How could you build on that growth next year?

When you’re finished, reread your work. Are there pieces you’d like to make public, either to others in your school community or via our related forum? What did you learn about yourself from doing this exercise? What would be helpful to share with others?

Draw a More/Less List.

Though this idea for creating a More/Less list was published in early January 2021, as the world was still grappling with pandemic isolation, you can borrow the exercise to think back on this school year — and plan ahead for the next one.

First ask yourself, what do I want more of in my life? What would I like to drop?

Here’s what to do next:

Grab a piece of paper and draw a line down the center to create your drawing area. On the left, write the word “More” at the top. On the right, write the word “Less.” Now think of the things that you enjoyed this year (you can also imagine things that would bring you joy in the future). Once you have an idea, draw a simple icon to represent it and draw it in the More column. If you want more jogging in your life, maybe draw a sneaker. Do the same for the Less side: If you want less social media, maybe draw a phone. These drawings don’t have to be realistic or well rendered; they just have to be recognizable to you. Think of them as secret symbols that remind you of your intention. If you worry you might forget what you meant, you can label them with a few letters to remind yourself. It’s OK to make your symbols simple (a heart, a plus sign) or abstract (a scribble, an x). This is the year ahead for you!

You might then share your lists in small groups, or display them gallery-style on the classroom wall. What ideas do you see on others’ lists that belong on your own?

Build from struggle.

The idea that struggle is vital to learning is well-established, according to Carol Dweck, a professor of psychology at Stanford University and an expert on constructive learning mind-sets. Her ideas and those of other experts are part of this piece , about educational strategies built on the idea that challenge is something to embrace in the classroom.

Both it and another recent Times piece, “ Tear It Up and Start Again ,” emphasize this point:

All of us fail to meet our goals sometimes. (If you’re not failing occasionally, the goals you’re setting are too safe and easy.) That is not a problem. What is a problem is failing and not learning from your mistakes.

To help you do just that, here are some questions inspired by both pieces:

When did you leave your comfort zone this academic year? How did you stretch yourself? What happened when you did?

What did you struggle with, or even fail at, this year? What was hard about it?

What helped when you struggled? What did you do to get yourself “out of the pit” of frustration, anxiety or confusion?

What could you build on, if you were to confront a challenge like this again?

Looking back, what did you learn from struggle or failure this year? How might that help you in the future?

Write a gratitude letter.

Like journaling, a regular gratitude practice in which you consciously count your blessings has been shown to make people happier and healthier. What are you grateful for this school year? Make as long a list as you can.

Then, consider taking the exercise a bit further with a “gratitude letter”:

In one study, researchers recruited 300 adults , most of them college students seeking mental health counseling. All the volunteers received counseling, but one group added a writing exercise focused on bad experiences, while another group wrote a letter of gratitude to another person each week for three weeks. A month later, those who wrote gratitude letters reported significantly better mental health. And the effect appears to last. Three months later the researchers scanned the brains of students while they completed a different gratitude exercise. The students who had written gratitude letters earlier in the study showed greater activation in a part of the brain called the medial prefrontal cortex, believed to be related to both reward and higher-level cognition.

This year, the Well section ran a “happiness challenge,” and part of it involved writing this kind of letter. Whom would you choose to receive yours? Is there someone who made a real difference in your life this academic year, whether a teacher, student, coach, friend or relative?

Here is Well’s advice for getting started:

Consider what you would thank this person for if you thought you would never see them again. Take a few minutes and write down what you would tell them, with as many specific examples as possible. Don’t overthink it: It can be both dashed off and straight from the heart. Think of it as a eulogy for the living. Then send it — by email, text, handwritten note, whatever. The medium doesn’t matter; sending it does.

Or, if you don’t want to send a letter to someone else, consider sending one to yourself. FutureMe is a website that allows you to write an email that will be delivered to you in six months, a year, three years, five years or even 10 years from now. What would you like to say to your future self? Why?

Make a playlist.

What music sums up this year for you? Make a list and explain your choices to others via short written annotations that express what’s notable or evocative about these songs, what they help you remember, and why they have been a meaningful part of your 2022-23 soundtrack.

If you’d like an example for how to do this, take a look at Playlist , a weekly tour of notable new music and videos chosen by Times critics. With sharp and engaging commentary, they analyze each of the 10 or so tracks in their roundup — breaking down lyrics, dissecting the instrumentals and discussing where the songs fit in the current music landscape. Here’s one from April featuring Drake, Kaytraminé, Blondshell, Yaeji and others.

When you’re done, share what you have. Are there songs that appear on more than one person’s list? If so, perhaps you can compile a class playlist to listen to, while you do some of these reflection exercises.

Leave recommendations for future readers.

In November, the staff of The New York Times Book Review chose the 10 best fiction and nonfiction books of 2022 and wrote a paragraph about each.

For example, here is the description for “Stay True: A Memoir,” by Hua Hsu:

In this quietly wrenching memoir, Hsu recalls starting out at Berkeley in the mid-1990s as a watchful music snob, fastidiously curating his tastes and mercilessly judging the tastes of others. Then he met Ken, a Japanese American frat boy. Their friendship was intense, but brief. Less than three years later, Ken would be killed in a carjacking. Hsu traces the course of their relationship — one that seemed improbable at first but eventually became a fixture in his life, a trellis along which both young men could stretch and grow.

What were the best books you read this year, in or outside of school? What short descriptions could you write recommending at least one of those books to future readers? Who do you think would be the audience for that book, and why would they like it? Those descriptions can then be posted as “ shelf talkers ” in classroom or school libraries for next year’s students. Here’s an example of how one school used shelf talkers to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Graph some personal data.

Make a data visualization of some aspect of your academic or personal life this year. You might use our “ What’s Going On in This Graph” feature as inspiration for both the type of data to represent and the kind of graph to best display it.

For example, what does a typical school day look like for you right now? How could you graph that to show the breakdown of time you spend going to classes, doing homework, participating in extracurriculars, relaxing or spending time with friends or family? What does your graph reveal to you? Or, as we ask students weekly in our “WGOITG?” feature: What do you notice? What do you wonder?

To figure out what you’d like to visualize, first collect some data that interests you. Your phone might be a source of things, like the number of steps you take in a day, your regular appointments, or whom you text most often. You can also start collecting new data by noticing and measuring aspects of your life that interest you, whether about your physical or mental health, your habits, relationships, hobbies, goals, consumption of social media, or anything else, big or small.

Next, consider how to display it. This collection of over 60 graphs from The New York Times will show you maps and pie charts, scatter plots and bar graphs. You can also invent your own way to show what you’ve collected by experimenting with the expressive possibilities of shape, color and line. The Dear Data project , in which two information designers collected and hand-drew their personal data for a year, can offer inspiration.

Recommend something overlooked or unappreciated.

The weekly Times Magazine “ Letter of Recommendation ” essay celebrates “the overlooked and unappreciated.” Over the years, writers have extolled the virtues of dog tricks , dishwashing , superstitions , gum , memewear , eavesdropping and “ the eerie poetry of gravestones .”

What are the overlooked and unappreciated things in your school community that you might miss now that the year is over? A class or club or sport? A place you like to hang out? A particular food in the cafeteria? A tradition or ritual?

You might work with others to brainstorm a list, then each choose one item and write a vivid paragraph, or shoot a short, compelling video, that celebrates it. That work might then be published in your school newspaper or on your school’s website as recommendations for others.

Teach a new skill.

What unique, useful or interesting skills did you acquire this year, in or out of school? Could you teach them to others? Keep in mind that these new skills can be very small — more “I learned how to use a semicolon” than “I wrote a novel.”

A good model? The Tip column , which ran for years in the Times Magazine. As this summary explains, each bite-size entry gives a “slowed-down, step-by-step guide through the minutiae” of how to do something. Here are five examples:

How to Appreciate Spiders

How to Recover From Being Ghosted

How to Let Your Mind Wander

How to Sell More Lemonade

How to Talk to Dogs

How could you break down the skill you’d like to teach into steps that could help others master it too?

Change your mind.

Learning often means changing your mind. As you deepen your understanding of a topic, your thinking becomes more nuanced. Was there an important topic or issue about which you changed your mind this year? How did that happen?

At the end of 2022, The Times’s Opinion section reflected on “ The 22 Debates That Made Us Rage, Roll Our Eyes, and Change Our Minds in 2022 .” Here is how they framed it:

Debating is what we do here at Times Opinion. Good-faith back-and-forth is at the core of our mission and our daily work. We give you arguments, you decide what to think. And so when we review the major events of the past year — which included a land war in Europe, the collapse of crypto and, yes, The Slap — it’s only natural for us to reflect on the debates: What can the United States do to try to end that war? Is crypto a reasonable thing to invest in? When is it appropriate to hit someone in the face for making a joke about your wife? As 2022 nears its end, we are presenting 22 of the debates that defined the year, revisiting the ones you might remember (and reminding you of the ones you might have tried to forget) and asking the most important question of all: Did you change your mind?

The Times article is interactive, so it’s easy for you to record how you felt about the issues listed, then see how other readers voted. Do you remember discussing any of these topics in school?

Finally, think about what you learned from revising an opinion, whether it was about something in the news, an academic subject or an issue in your personal life. How could the process of rethinking your opinion help you in the future?

Teachers and students, don’t forget that we have a companion forum where we invite you to post your thoughts about any of the reflection exercises in this piece. We hope to hear from classrooms across the world, and we hope you’ll take some time not only to post your own thoughts but to comment on the responses of others.

Katherine Schulten has been a Learning Network editor since 2006. Before that, she spent 19 years in New York City public schools as an English teacher, school-newspaper adviser and literacy coach. More about Katherine Schulten

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How to Make an End-of-Year Classroom Recap Video

May 20, 2015

The end of the school year is a time for reflection; for looking back on all your students have learned. And video gives you a meaningful way to wish graduates well or to say goodbye to students before summer vacation begins. To help you create your own video to share with students and their families, take a look at this end-of-year video guide. Or, dive right into Animoto by using the This Year's Moments template.

Collect photos and video clips

Want to create a video like the one shown above? Start by collecting photos and video clips from throughout the year. You can look through your phone or even ask students and parents to send you images. You can also dig through a school Google drive or photo service if your school has one.

Here are a few images you might want to include:

• First day: Photos from the first day of school can be a fun way to show how much your students have grown.
• Class pictures: Using the class photo is a simple way to make sure all of your students make it into your video. Who doesn't love an adorable picture day smile?
• Sports and clubs: Capture highlights from extracurricular activities to celebrate after-school accomplishments.
• School events: Document assemblies, concerts, plays, and school dances to show your students making memories and having fun together.
• Class trips: Field trips are the highlight of the year! If you have photos from any trips, make sure to include them.
• Class projects: Add in photos of presentations or special assignments that show your students learning.
• Messages from teachers: Want to let your students know how much you're going to miss them? Have the school staff hand-write signs to students and snap pictures to add into your video. Check out this user-generated video that connected students and teachers across the remote classroom.

Start your end-of-year video

It’s time to make your video! Animoto has tons of customizable templates to help you get started. We recommend the Graduation Memories or Class of 2022 templates for a misty-eyed celebratory send-off, or the I Graduated or Graduation Message templates to showcase your students' journeys. Once you’ve started your project, add your photos and video clips and get customizing.

Personalize your video

Animoto gives you lots of options for customizing your video. Click on the "Design" icon to change colors, fonts, and more. That's also where you can make style changes to your video, including choosing different transitions and text effects for your video. You can remove the corner watermark by upgrading to the Basic, Professional, or Professional Plus plans.

Choose music

We have a library of licensed music with thousands of songs. While every Animoto plan has many different licensed music tracks to choose from, upgrading to the Professional or Professional Plus plan grants you access to over 3,000 tracks to suit nearly any occasion. Choose an upbeat song to get students excited for the summer vacation, or take a trip down memory lane with a heartwarming instrumental song. You can use our music selector tools to find the right one for your video. Search by genre, mood, and more. if you can’t find what you want, you can upload your own licensed music right into Animoto.

Use Voice-over

Want to send off your students with a message straight from the heart? Try creating a voice-over. Available with the Professional and Professional Plus plans, this feature allows you to record, edit, and add personalized voice-overs to your videos. What better way to encourage and inspire your students than with a message from their favorite teacher? Check out our Complete Guide to Voice-over for tips and tricks.

Share your video

Once you’re happy with your project, simply download it or to your desired social channel. Animoto lets you post directly to social media and also offers embed code so you can add your video to your class website. To learn more, check out our guide to sharing your Animoto video .

Have you created an end-of-year video using Animoto? We’d love to see it! Join our Facebook group, the Animoto Social Video Marketing Community , and share your work.

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Systematic Teaching for First and Second Grade

30 Best End of Year Songs for Classroom Slideshows

May 17, 2019 | Leave a Comment

Looking to put together a slideshow to commemorate the school year? I’ve put together a list of the best end of the year songs guaranteed to help make those wonderful memories last.

Once you’ve picked your favorites I recommend purchasing on iTunes for use in adding to your slideshow. For creating the slideshow I like iMovie if you have a Mac or MovieMaker for a PC.

Please Note: Not all videos may be appropriate for classroom use. Please preview prior to class viewing.

• When I Grow Up – The Raging Idiots
• I Will Remember You – Sarah McLachlan
• These Are Days – 10,000 Maniacs
• This Is Me – Greatest Showman Cast
• You’ve Got a Friend In Me – Randy Newman (Toy Story Edition)
• Count on Me – Bruno Mars
• My Wish – Rascal Flatts
• Let Them Be Little – Billy Dean
• Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
• Life is a Highway – Rascal Flatts
• Happy – Pharrell Williams
• Upside Down – Jack Johnson
• Gone, Gone, Gone – Phillip Phillips
• Time of Our Lives – Tyrone Wells
• What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
• Try Everything – Shakira
• Graduation (Friends Forever) – Vitamin C
• You’ll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins
• Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake
• Dream Big! – Roger Day
• Whenever You Remember – Carrie Underwood
• Best Day of My Life – American Authors
• Golden Girls – Golden Girls Theme
• We’re Going to Be Friends – Jack Johnson
• On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons
• You’re Welcome – Dwayne Johnson (from Moana)
• Take On the World – Sabrina Carpenter and Rowan Blanchard
• Good Life – One Republic
• Grow Young – Brynn Cartelli
• This World is Yours – Julie Durden

There you have it! A great mix of sappy and happy songs for your end of year slideshows. I hope you found a few new songs.

Have a favorite end of year song I left out? Share it in the comments below.

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32 Songs for Your End of the Year Slideshow

• Korryna Sanchez
• May 18, 2022
• No Comments

The school year is winding down (finally) and all the things that we spend the whole year looking forward to (and dreading) are creeping up. Yup, you guessed it, I am talking about the end-of-the-year slide show. Finding the perfect songs for your end-of-the-year slideshow can be quite the task.  Let’s make it easier for you by giving you a comprehensive list so you can choose the ones that will fit the theme of your year perfectly! Here is a list of 32 Songs for your End of the Year Slideshow. Trust me, you’re going to want to check out #6 and #19!

It takes quite a bit of time to download those photos, put them into the Powerpoint, and then add the songs you choose from this list. You are going to need some very engaging activities to keep your students busy while you work on your heartfelt end-of-the-year slideshow. You can find those activities on Education to the Core Premium. I have I Spy, Crack the Codes, and Directed Drawings that your students are sure to want to do!

Heartfelt End of the Year Slideshow Songs

1.   Slow Down – Nichole Nordeman : This song is about growing up and how quickly time passes.

2.   We are Going to be Friends – Jack Johnson : This is personally one of my favorite songs to hear in movies, and now on slideshows!

3. A Million Dreams – The Greatest Showman: This is truly one of my favorite movies ever. This song is just so beautiful and has an incredibly positive message.

4. With My Two Hands – Ben Harper: Nothing better than Ben Harper’s chill voice sending the message that you can make a difference with “My Own Two Hands.”

5.   My Wish – Rascal Flatts: “I hope each road leads you where you want to go.” I feel like that lyric just shows how perfect this song is for an End of Year Slideshow!

6.   What I am – Will.I.Am:  What a powerful message from Will.i.am.

“If what I am is what’s in me Then I’ll stay strong – that’s who I’ll be And I will always be the best “me” that I can be…”

End of Year Slideshow Songs about Teamwork

7.   Count on Me – Bruno Mars: This is a classic slideshow song. I think I have heard it at every graduation/commencement ceremony I have been to since it was released!

8.   Best Day of My Life – American Authors: ALL your students are going to know this song! This one is definitely a keeper for any slideshow.

9.   Forever Young Ft. Mr. Hudson – Jay-Z: This brings back memories for me. Hopefully, it will do the same for your students in 15 years.

10.   We Are Family – Sister Sledge:  A reminder to your students that they have a classroom “family” forever!

End of the Year Slideshow Songs That Make You Want to Dance

11.   Happy – Pharrell Williams: This song is honestly so happy. No matter how sad saying goodbye is, it really is a happy time for everyone!

12.   Never Grow Up – Taylor Swift: You literally can’t go wrong with Taylor Swift — that’s a fact! All joking aside this song is very sweet and sends a loving positive message.

13.   Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake: Like when you listen to “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, this song is just so upbeat and positive you can’t help but embrace the happiness that comes with this time of year!

14.   Unwritten – Natasha  Bedingfield: The chorus to this song says “The rest is still unwritten.” I think that is just a positive message for students to take with them as they move on from my classroom.

15.   Upside Down – Jack Johnson: This is another song that takes me back to when I was in school. I felt obligated by the teachers that came before me to add it to the list.

16.   You’ve Got a Friend In Me – Toy Story: Reminisce about the year with “You’ve Got a Friend in Me!”

Songs That Take Us Back 

17.  Fireflies – Owlcity: This song just makes people feel good and happy and loved. I think that is exactly what an end-of-the-year slideshow is supposed to do.

18.   Story of My Life – One Direction: This music video is basically a slideshow, so I think it would be a great idea to use it on an end-of-the-year slideshow.

19.   Don’t Stop Believing – Journey: A classic song that I have found to be truly timeless when it comes to these types of things. And, it helps that it is truly a great song.

20.   What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong: This song pairs perfectly with an end-of-the-year slideshow.

21.   Stand by Me – Ben E. King: This is literally a classic! “I won’t cry, I won’t shed a tear.” is what I have to repeat to myself over and over every time this time of year comes around!

End-of-Year Slideshow Songs Your Students Will Sing Along With

22.   Try Everything – Shakira (Zootopia Soundtrack): This will be one your students can easily sing along to!

23.   We Don’t Talk About Bruno – Encanto Soundtrack: Speaking of songs you can sing along to, this is a song that you will be singing for the rest of your career as a teacher!

24.   Roar – Katy Perry: This is a song about strength and resilience. This is a great message to add to an end-of-the-year slideshow.

25.   Who Says – Selena Gomez: I might be dating myself a little with this song choice, but I think it is a good one nonetheless. Plus, it sends a great message that it’s okay to be yourself.

26.   Home – Phillip Phillips: If you want something comforting, nothing is better than “Home” by Phillip Phillips.

Don’t Forget These Songs!

27.   I Can’t Wait To Be King – The Lion King: Talk about a moving on to the next step song!

28.   Party in the U.S.A. – Miley Cyrus: This is always a fun song to pair with field trip photos, events, or any holiday celebrations you did in the classroom.  It’s got a great beat!

29.   Glorious – Kidz Bop 37: Kidz Bop has a great version of “Glorious.” If you did a lot with a growth mindset this year, this song is PERFECT!

30.   Compass – Lady A: Lady A’s “Compass” doesn’t disappoint.  I think your parents would appreciate this song as well!

31.   Touch the Sky – Brave Soundtrack: I won’t lie, I might be biased and only adding this song in because I ADORE this movie. Or, it might really just be a great song. You can tell me once you listen to it!

32.   Sing – Pentatonix: This might be another biased pick because I also love Pentatonix, or it really will be a great song to describe a great school year! And, it is a fabulous song to get your students excited about the year in review and the year to come!

If you are looking for more end-of-the-year ideas or are hoping to get some fresh ideas you can bring into your classroom this coming fall join any of our Fearless Facebook Groups;  Kindergarten Fearless Group , First Grade Fearless Group, or Second Grade Fearless Teacher Group .

In addition, you can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @educationtothecore for continued information and resources as the school year progresses.

Written by: Korryna Sanchez 

At Education to the Core , we exist to help our teachers build a stronger classroom as they connect with our community to find trusted, state-of-the-art resources designed by teachers for teachers. We aspire to be the world’s leading & most trusted community for educational resources for teachers. We improve the lives of every teacher and learner with the most comprehensive, reliable, and inclusive educational resources.

If you enjoyed what we have to offer at ETTC, be sure to join our email list , so you won’t miss a beat. We are here to help with all your resource needs. Become a Premium Member of Education to the Core and receive immediate access to thousands of printable activities. For one small monthly or annual fee, everything ETTC can be at your fingertips all of the time.

Welcome! I’m Emily, Founder of Education to the Core. We are all about helping K-2 teachers by providing unlimited access to affordable printables for every subject area.   

Student Engagement Strategies for the End of the School Year

As the school year draws to a close, maintaining student engagement can become increasingly difficult. With warmer weather, impending vacations, and the excitement of summer break, students may find it difficult to stay focused in the classroom. However, with intentional strategies and creative approaches, teachers can keep students engaged and motivated until the very last day. Here are some strategies to help you finish the school year strong:

Incorporate Hands-On Activities

Engage students by incorporating hands-on, interactive activities into your lessons. From scavenger hunts and digital breakouts to creating memory books, there are many fun activities students can do at the end of the school year. You could also have students write thank-you letters or cards to those people they are thankful for. In addition, you could incorporate project-based learning or STEM/STEAM activities .

Celebrate Achievements

Recognize and celebrate what students have accomplished during the school year. One way to do this is to create awards and host end-of-year classroom awards ceremonies. Recognize accomplishments such as achieving good grades, exhibiting positive character traits, or demonstrating leadership qualities. In addition, verbally praise students in front of their peers, highlighting their strengths and accomplishments. This will boost their confidence and leave them with good memories of the school year.

Incorporate Brain Breaks

Lots of research suggests that brain breaks improve academic performance, motivation, and attitude. At the end of the year, it’s necessary to break up long periods of instruction with movement breaks and brain-boosting activities. You can incorporate short physical exercises, stretching routines, or mindfulness activities to help students reenergize and refocus their attention. If you are looking to create a brain break, AI chatbots can help you quickly create one specific to your subject area.

Invite a Guest Speaker

Guest speakers can provide a change of pace, offering students a chance to interact with someone other than you. Guest speakers can show students how the concepts and skills they are learning in the classroom are applied in real-world settings, making the content more relevant and engaging for students. In addition, they can engage students through interactive activities, demonstrations, or hands-on experiences related to their expertise, creating memorable learning moments.

Go on a Virtual Field Trip

There’s nothing more engaging than going on a virtual field trip. Virtual field trips can help students explore the world from home, and even engage in different types of learning with audio, visual, and video media. There are many world-class virtual field trips . Students could even explore the great state of Texas or the state in which they live. In addition, there are many field trips that offer a virtual reality experience.

Maintain Consistent Routines and Expectations

Keep the basic classroom routine consistent, as students will behave better if they know classroom expectations are still in place. Review classroom procedures if necessary and be consistent with follow-through to maintain a positive learning environment.

Reflect with Your Students

Take time to reflect on the successes and challenges of the school year with your students. Encourage them to share their thoughts, feedback, and suggestions for improvement. Use this feedback to inform your teaching practices and plan for the year ahead.

As the school year winds down, it’s important to keep students engaged and motivated to finish strong. By implementing these strategies and fostering a positive and supportive learning environment, you can help students stay focused, inspired, and eager to learn until the very end. Remember, every moment counts, and the impact you make on your students’ lives extends far beyond the classroom. So, let’s finish the school year with enthusiasm, positivity, and a sense of accomplishment!

Diana Benner

Diana specializes in leadership development and all things Google. She has served as an instructional technologist, instructional designer, and online learning specialist, supporting districts all over Texas and in state government. Diana earned a Masters of Education in Educational Technology from Texas State University- San Marcos. She also holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in Spanish and the other in Political Science, from Texas State.

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30 Examples: How to Conclude a Presentation (Effective Closing Techniques)

By Status.net Editorial Team on March 4, 2024 — 9 minutes to read

Ending a presentation on a high note is a skill that can set you apart from the rest. It’s the final chance to leave an impact on your audience, ensuring they walk away with the key messages embedded in their minds. This moment is about driving your points home and making sure they resonate. Crafting a memorable closing isn’t just about summarizing key points, though that’s part of it, but also about providing value that sticks with your listeners long after they’ve left the room.

Crafting Your Core Message

To leave a lasting impression, your presentation’s conclusion should clearly reflect your core message. This is your chance to reinforce the takeaways and leave the audience thinking about your presentation long after it ends.

Identifying Key Points

Start by recognizing what you want your audience to remember. Think about the main ideas that shaped your talk. Make a list like this:

• The problem your presentation addresses.
• The evidence that supports your argument.
• The solution you propose or the action you want the audience to take.

These key points become the pillars of your core message.

Contextualizing the Presentation

Provide context by briefly relating back to the content of the whole presentation. For example:

• Reference a statistic you shared in the opening, and how it ties into the conclusion.
• Mention a case study that underlines the importance of your message.

Connecting these elements gives your message cohesion and makes your conclusion resonate with the framework of your presentation.

30 Example Phrases: How to Conclude a Presentation

• 1. “In summary, let’s revisit the key takeaways from today’s presentation.”
• 2. “Thank you for your attention. Let’s move forward together.”
• 3. “That brings us to the end. I’m open to any questions you may have.”
• 4. “I’ll leave you with this final thought to ponder as we conclude.”
• 5. “Let’s recap the main points before we wrap up.”
• 6. “I appreciate your engagement. Now, let’s turn these ideas into action.”
• 7. “We’ve covered a lot today. To conclude, remember these crucial points.”
• 8. “As we reach the end, I’d like to emphasize our call to action.”
• 9. “Before we close, let’s quickly review what we’ve learned.”
• 10. “Thank you for joining me on this journey. I look forward to our next steps.”
• 11. “In closing, I’d like to thank everyone for their participation.”
• 12. “Let’s conclude with a reminder of the impact we can make together.”
• 13. “To wrap up our session, here’s a brief summary of our discussion.”
• 14. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to present to you. Any final thoughts?”
• 15. “And that’s a wrap. I welcome any final questions or comments.”
• 16. “As we conclude, let’s remember the objectives we’ve set today.”
• 17. “Thank you for your time. Let’s apply these insights to achieve success.”
• 18. “In conclusion, your feedback is valuable, and I’m here to listen.”
• 19. “Before we part, let’s take a moment to reflect on our key messages.”
• 20. “I’ll end with an invitation for all of us to take the next step.”
• 21. “As we close, let’s commit to the goals we’ve outlined today.”
• 22. “Thank you for your attention. Let’s keep the conversation going.”
• 23. “In conclusion, let’s make a difference, starting now.”
• 24. “I’ll leave you with these final words to consider as we end our time together.”
• 25. “Before we conclude, remember that change starts with our actions today.”
• 26. “Thank you for the lively discussion. Let’s continue to build on these ideas.”
• 27. “As we wrap up, I encourage you to reach out with any further questions.”
• 28. “In closing, I’d like to express my gratitude for your valuable input.”
• 29. “Let’s conclude on a high note and take these learnings forward.”
• 30. “Thank you for your time today. Let’s end with a commitment to progress.”

Summarizing the Main Points

When you reach the end of your presentation, summarizing the main points helps your audience retain the important information you’ve shared. Crafting a memorable summary enables your listeners to walk away with a clear understanding of your message.

Effective Methods of Summarization

To effectively summarize your presentation, you need to distill complex information into concise, digestible pieces. Start by revisiting the overarching theme of your talk and then narrow down to the core messages. Use plain language and imagery to make the enduring ideas stick. Here are some examples of how to do this:

• Use analogies that relate to common experiences to recap complex concepts.
• Incorporate visuals or gestures that reinforce your main arguments.

The Rule of Three

The Rule of Three is a classic writing and communication principle. It means presenting ideas in a trio, which is a pattern that’s easy for people to understand and remember. For instance, you might say, “Our plan will save time, cut costs, and improve quality.” This structure has a pleasing rhythm and makes the content more memorable. Some examples include:

• “This software is fast, user-friendly, and secure.”
• Pointing out a product’s “durability, affordability, and eco-friendliness.”

Reiterating the Main Points

Finally, you want to circle back to the key takeaways of your presentation. Rephrase your main points without introducing new information. This reinforcement supports your audience’s memory and understanding of the material. You might summarize key takeaways like this:

• Mention the problem you addressed, the solution you propose, and the benefits of this solution.
• Highlighting the outcomes of adopting your strategy: higher efficiency, greater satisfaction, and increased revenue.

Creating a Strong Conclusion

The final moments of your presentation are your chance to leave your audience with a powerful lasting impression. A strong conclusion is more than just summarizing—it’s your opportunity to invoke thought, inspire action, and make your message memorable.

Incorporating a Call to Action

A call to action is your parting request to your audience. You want to inspire them to take a specific action or think differently as a result of what they’ve heard. To do this effectively:

• Be clear about what you’re asking.
• Explain why their action is needed.
• Make it as simple as possible for them to take the next steps.

Example Phrases:

• “Start making a difference today by…”
• “Join us in this effort by…”
• “Take the leap and commit to…”

Leaving a Lasting Impression

End your presentation with something memorable. This can be a powerful quote, an inspirational statement, or a compelling story that underscores your main points. The goal here is to resonate with your audience on an emotional level so that your message sticks with them long after they leave.

• “In the words of [Influential Person], ‘…'”
• “Imagine a world where…”
• “This is more than just [Topic]; it’s about…”

Enhancing Audience Engagement

To hold your audience’s attention and ensure they leave with a lasting impression of your presentation, fostering interaction is key.

Q&A Sessions

It’s important to integrate a Q&A session because it allows for direct communication between you and your audience. This interactive segment helps clarify any uncertainties and encourages active participation. Plan for this by designating a time slot towards the end of your presentation and invite questions that promote discussion.

• “I’d love to hear your thoughts; what questions do you have?”
• “Let’s dive into any questions you might have. Who would like to start?”
• “Feel free to ask any questions, whether they’re clarifications or deeper inquiries about the topic.”

Encouraging Audience Participation

Getting your audience involved can transform a good presentation into a great one. Use open-ended questions that provoke thought and allow audience members to reflect on how your content relates to them. Additionally, inviting volunteers to participate in a demonstration or share their experiences keeps everyone engaged and adds a personal touch to your talk.

• “Could someone give me an example of how you’ve encountered this in your work?”
• “I’d appreciate a volunteer to help demonstrate this concept. Who’s interested?”
• “How do you see this information impacting your daily tasks? Let’s discuss!”

Delivering a Persuasive Ending

At the end of your presentation, you have the power to leave a lasting impact on your audience. A persuasive ending can drive home your key message and encourage action.

Sales and Persuasion Tactics

When you’re concluding a presentation with the goal of selling a product or idea, employ carefully chosen sales and persuasion tactics. One method is to summarize the key benefits of your offering, reminding your audience why it’s important to act. For example, if you’ve just presented a new software tool, recap how it will save time and increase productivity. Another tactic is the ‘call to action’, which should be clear and direct, such as “Start your free trial today to experience the benefits first-hand!” Furthermore, using a touch of urgency, like “Offer expires soon!”, can nudge your audience to act promptly.

Final Impressions and Professionalism

Your closing statement is a chance to solidify your professional image and leave a positive impression. It’s important to display confidence and poise. Consider thanking your audience for their time and offering to answer any questions. Make sure to end on a high note by summarizing your message in a concise and memorable way. If your topic was on renewable energy, you might conclude by saying, “Let’s take a leap towards a greener future by adopting these solutions today.” This reinforces your main points and encourages your listeners to think or act differently when they leave.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some creative strategies for ending a presentation memorably.

To end your presentation in a memorable way, consider incorporating a call to action that engages your audience to take the next step. Another strategy is to finish with a thought-provoking question or a surprising fact that resonates with your listeners.

Can you suggest some powerful quotes suitable for concluding a presentation?

Yes, using a quote can be very effective. For example, Maya Angelou’s “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” can reinforce the emotional impact of your presentation.

What is an effective way to write a conclusion that summarizes a presentation?

An effective conclusion should recap the main points succinctly, highlighting what you want your audience to remember. A good way to conclude is by restating your thesis and then briefly summarizing the supporting points you made.

As a student, how can I leave a strong impression with my presentation’s closing remarks?

To leave a strong impression, consider sharing a personal anecdote related to your topic that demonstrates passion and conviction. This helps humanize your content and makes the message more relatable to your audience.

How can I appropriately thank my audience at the close of my presentation?

A simple and sincere expression of gratitude is always appropriate. You might say, “Thank you for your attention and engagement today,” to convey appreciation while also acknowledging their participation.

What are some examples of a compelling closing sentence in a presentation?

A compelling closing sentence could be something like, “Together, let’s take the leap towards a greener future,” if you’re presenting on sustainability. This sentence is impactful, calls for united action, and leaves your audience with a clear message.

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Blog > 10 creative Ideas for your Title- and End-Slides in Presentations

10 creative Ideas for your Title- and End-Slides in Presentations

11.13.19   •  #powerpointtips #presentation.

Of all the slides in a PowerPoint presentation, the ones that are without a doubt the most important ones are the first and the last one. It makes perfect sense – the title slide sets the general tone. Make it boring and you’ll loose your audience’s attention within the first few minutes. If you’re making it exciting and innovative on the other hand, you’re taking a big step towards giving an amazing presentation and having an engaged audience. It is very similar with the final slide. It will be the one that people are going to remember most, the one that is supposed to make people leave the room thinking ‘Wow! What a great presentation!’ A bad ending could even mess up what would otherwise be a good performance overall (just think of a good TV show with a bad ending…).

The most common mistakes for title and final slides

If you asked 100 people what belongs on your PowerPoint’s title slide, the majority would answer ‘The title, maybe a subtitle, the presenter’s name and company, the date’. That kind of title slide is alright, but you usually say all of these things in the beginning of a presentation anyway. Also, it is very likely that most of your attendees know these things – they usually signed up for it after all. So what’s the point in listing all of that information on your title slide, when you could also use it for making a stunning first impression? Not only the title slide is commonly designed in an uncreative and conventional way. Too often, you can see PowerPoint presentations ending with the ‘Any Questions?’ or even worse – the ‘Thank you for your attention’ slide. ‘Thank you for your attention’ is a set phrase that has been said so many times it can’t possibly be delivered in an authentic way anymore. Therefore, it’s better to think of something else for your grand final. Finding an unconventional ending that suits your presentation style makes you seem much more charismatic and authentic than using an empty phrase.

1. An inspiring quote

An inspiring quote on your slide is a perfect way to both start and finish your presentation. Well, it does not have to be inspiring. It could be any quote that is somehow connected to your presented topic. Just have fun looking through books and the internet to find interesting quotes that you want your audience to hear. Good pages to look at for inspiration are goodreads and brainyquotes.com .

2. A blank slide

This might seem strange to some people, but a blank slide can be really powerful if you want to have your audience’s full attention. You can use the advantage of blank slides by incorporating them at the beginning, in the end or even in between your regular slides. You can either use a blank slide of your regular template (so there will still be some design elements on it) or go all in and make the slide completely black (or white).

3. A call to action

If the goal of your presentation is to really make your audience act in some kind of way, there is no better way to start – or better yet end your presentation than with a call to action. This can be literally anything from little trivial things like “Drink enough water during the presentation so your brain stays intact!” – which will lighten up the mood – to more serious calls like “Help reducing waste by recycling whenever possible!”.

4. A question

Usually, it is the audience that asks questions after a presentation. However, you can also turn that around and ask your attendees instead. However, it’s important to ask a question that can be answered easily and individually – the best questions involve previous experiences and personal opinions (asking about facts or questions that are hard to understand can often lead to silence and no one wanting to answer).

5. An interactive poll

Nothing engages the audience like a live poll. Conduct one right at the beginning to get everybody envolved, and/or wait until the end to get your audience’s opinion on something. Icebreaker polls are the perfect way to start, as they lighten the mood. You can easily create polls for free with interactive software tools such as SlideLizard .

6. A funny picture, meme, or quote

I’m pretty sure that every student nowadays has that teacher that just tries a little too hard to be cool by throwing in a meme on literally every single slide. That may be a bit too much. But just a little comedy at the beginning or in the end can make you seem very charismatic and entertaining and catch the attention of your listeners. Open (or close) with a joke, a funny picture or a quote – whichever you feel comfortable with. It is usually best if it has something to do with the topic you’re presenting.

7. An interesting fact

Catch the audience’s attention by putting an interesting fact concerning the topic on one of your slides – ideally at the beginning, but maybe also in the end (to keep up the audience’s interest even after the presentation is done).

8. The title, but with a twist

If you feel like you need to put the presentations name/topic on the front slide, but still want that little creative twist, just change the title slightly. According to what I’m proposing, rather dull presentation titles like e.g. “Marine Biology – An Introduction to Organisms in the sea” can be transformed to “Marine Biology – Diving Deep” (or something less cheesy if you prefer). Make it either funny or over-the-top spectacular and catch the audience’s attention!

9. A bold statement, opinion, or piece of information

This is probably the best way to capture your audience from the beginning on. Start with a radical, crazy opinion or statement and then get your attendees hooked by telling them that during the presentation, they will learn why you’re right. It could be anything, really, as long as it goes well with your presented topic – from the statement “Everybody has the time to read 5 books a month” to “Going to college is a waste of time” or “The human species is not the most intelligent on earth” – Take whatever crazy, unpopular theory or opinion you have, throw it out there and (very important!) explain why you’re right. You’ll have your audience’s attention for sure and might even change some of their opinions about certain things.

10. No title and end slide at all

Yes, that’s a possibility as well. If you absolutely can’t think of any creative or otherwise good way to start and end your presentation – even after reading the tips mentioned above – then simply don’t. That’s right - no title and end slide at all. You can pull that of by simply introducing yourself in the beginning, then getting right into the topic (which makes a good impression, long introductions are usually rather tedious) and when you’re at your last slide just saying a simple ‘Goodbye, thank you and feel free to ask questions’.

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About the author.

Pia Lehner-Mittermaier

Pia works in Marketing as a graphic designer and writer at SlideLizard. She uses her vivid imagination and creativity to produce good content.

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Hybrid learning means that one group of students are in class at school. Another group of students takes part in class from home at the same time. They both get taught at the same time.

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End of Year Celebration Ideas for Elementary Teachers

After the hectic testing windows have passed, the end of the school year can be a wonderful time to celebrate camaraderie, hard work, and accomplishments.

Celebrating during your final days together will leave students with stronger feelings of self-esteem, self-worth, connections, and happiness. Activities that bring everyone together to share memories and have some fun will create these important memorable moments and leave your class feeling loved.

Here are some favorite end-of-year celebration ideas:

Throw a Class Party

It’s been a year of learning and growth, and that is reason to celebrate in a way that is extra special for the students. Have students vote on what type of class party they would like to do.

Some may choose classics like ice cream parties, while others may vote for theme parties like a Luau with shaved ice and a lei, a Game Day or Field Day where they play games outside, or an in-class campout where they can bring a blanket from home and have a picnic or BBQ outside.

Paint the Playground

This fun end-of-school activity creates a satisfying feeling of belonging by allowing students to “leave their mark” on the school playground (at least temporarily). Provide chalk or chalk paint and have students each pick a place to paint or work together on colorful masterpieces.

Chalk Paint is inexpensive, easy, creative, and fun. Here’s a recipe if you want to make your own:

• 1 part cornstarch (1 c.)
• 1 part water (1 c.)
• food coloring (we used neon colors)
• sponge brushes

Mix cornstarch and water. Add food coloring and mix.

*Use a muffin tin for extra-large muffins to hold the paint. One cup of cornstarch and one cup of water filled them about halfway.

The paint stretched further than I thought. I also included a sponge brush for each color – just simpler. Be sure to use a lot of the paint on the brush for the best color.

Build Class Community with Goodbye Stars

Celebrations mean more when students get to celebrate and complement each other. This is an excellent opportunity to unite your classroom in supporting one another and solidifying connections.

According to Elyse Rycroft at Proud to Be Primary, using Goodbye Stars at the end of the year is a “great community-building activity that helps students further their social-emotional development. Saying goodbye is hard for some, and this helps them say it to their peers before summer vacation. It helps them reflect on past experiences and from the year together as a class.”

You simply cut out a star shape, put the child’s name on it, and then pass it around like an autography book. Students can write kind messages of goodbyes and well-wishes to each other on their stars. This helps promote feelings of caring and can be a wonderful keepsake for the year.

Create Memory Books

One way to celebrate the end of the school year is by having students complete a memory book. Students are able to think back on all the things they learned and what they are most proud of. They can create drawings and write about their favorite things and favorite memories with friends.

It’s also fun to have a page where students can sign or write a goodbye note to each other like in a yearbook. For my students, I liked adding a class picture to the front cover and a couple pictures of each child on the inside of the books as an extra special touch.

As your students get older, they can look at their memory books and remember what was most important to them at that time in their lives.

Hand Out Award Certificates

Awards are some of my favorite ways to celebrate the end of school and show students how proud I am of their hard work and efforts.

When students receive an award, it lets them know that they are a special, valued part of your classroom community. A simple way to do this is to print award certificates (many of them are free on Teachers Pay Teachers), write their names in, and add a note describing the student’s achievement or special contribution.

It is important that every student receive some type of award. These can be for academic achievements, personal goals, or good character traits such as resilience, respect, empathy, good listening, and growth mindset.

When handing these out, I always read them out loud to each child and shared why they were special to me. We all cheered for and celebrated each other.

I wanted each child to know I was proud of all their hard work, that I cared about them, and wished them happiness and success as they continued on in their education journeys. The ultimate goal was for each child to leave my class feeling good about themselves and our time learning together, with hope and joy for their future.

Make Keepsakes

Memory keepsakes are a marvelous way to remember all the good times together. Here are a couple ideas:

1. Class Slide Show

Make a slide show with pictures of your class taken during the school year and set them to meaningful songs. Perhaps you had a class theme song or other songs you played often that had meaning. I liked to include songs about friendship.

Play your slide show on the last day of school. If possible, make a copy for each child to have as a keepsake of their year together.

2. Memory Gift Books

Create a collection of items in a 3-ring binder that students have made over the the school year such as: art work, writing, and pictures. Add a poem and a picture of you and your students together to make a very personal, meaningful gift.

Give Students End-of-Year Gifts

Bubble Over With Fun: The perfect sweet and simple end-of-school gift tag. Pick up some bubbles at the Dollar Store, add a cute note on the tag, and you are good to go!

Smart Cookie: Customize this adorable end-of-school-year gift with a cookie and a note along the lines of “You are one smart cookie!”

Balloon Straws: Purchase silly straws, cut out balloon shapes to tape to the end of them, with a phrase like, “Happy last day of school!” Can you imagine the smiles you’ll get from your kiddos with this end-of-the-year surprise?

I hope these end-of-year celebration ideas help inspire you to think of ways to celebrate with your students! Whatever you end up doing, it’s sure to be a memorable, fun, and very special time for them.

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6 ways to use Microsoft Copilot for end-of-school-year tasks

May 14, 2024.

By Microsoft Education Team

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The end of the school year is a hectic time for educators everywhere. Between reviewing content, completing assessments, and maintaining classroom management, it’s easy to feel the pressure of too many responsibilities and not enough time to accomplish everything.

Whether closing out the academic year in the northern hemisphere or preparing for the next one in the southern hemisphere, Microsoft Copilot offers innovative and efficient ways to complete many of the tasks that occupy these transitional times of year. From drafting student feedback to composing newsletters and offering planning suggestions for events, Copilot adapts to whatever task it’s asked. To get started, all you need is a basic understanding of how to access and use Copilot.

Start using Copilot for your end-of-school-year tasks

You can learn how to use Copilot by visiting Meet your AI assistant for education: Microsoft Copilot .

When you’re ready to get started, go to copilot.microsoft.com or download the iOS or Android mobile app.

Writing prompts for the end of the school year

Prompting Copilot to generate content requires practice. Including specific information in your prompt helps produce more relevant responses.

An effective Copilot prompt:

• Asks the tool to take on a role called a persona .
• Provides an objective  that tells the tool what to do or produce.
• Defines the audience  who will be using whatever Copilot generates.
• Includes context  that gives the tool background information.
• Sets boundaries  that limit or constrain responses.

Elements of a Good Prompt infographic which includes tips for writing prompts that produce more relevant responses.

Throughout this post, you’ll find sample prompts that include these components. We recommend borrowing inspiration from them and adjusting to make them fit your own classroom, or you can copy and paste the examples without modifications if you are just beginning.

Now let’s learn how Copilot can help you complete six common end-of-school-year tasks.

1. Craft student feedback at the end of the school year

Copilot can help you write end-of-school-year feedback in a style and tone that all students can understand. Simply craft a prompt that includes the subject area and details about the feedback you want to provide, and Copilot can draft a constructive, supportive statement written specifically for students. For example:

You are a fourth-grade teacher who is writing feedback on a student’s current reading skills. The student uses details to explain what text means but is unable to draw inferences in fiction. The student can identify in-text examples that illustrate a given theme but is unable to independently produce a theme without guidance. Write a short statement that explains this feedback to a student. Include a description about why using details is important and 1-2 ways to develop this skill. The paragraph should be written with plain text so that a fourth-grade student will understand.

You can always refine your prompt if the response is not what you expected. Simply include something like, “Re-write this feedback in Spanish” without selecting New topic , and Copilot will continue where you left off. Give it a try.

2. Write end-of-school-year reflections

Educators often write end-of-school-year newsletters for families, update class blogs with a final post, and draft reflections on school year goals. Copilot can assist with all these tasks and can help you create personalized, engaging visuals for your content. For example, you can use the following prompt to produce a summer newsletter for families.

You are the science department leader for a middle school in New York City. Draft a summer newsletter for families that includes an introduction that talks about the past year and 5 sections: Science Books for Young Adults, Science at Home, Science Summer Camps, Science Events in NYC, and NY Science Museums. Only include information that can be linked to a website to learn more. The newsletter should be written in plain text using an informal tone.

You can also share your experiences, memorable moments, and insights from the school year and Copilot will help you find creative ways to share this information with colleagues, families, and students.

3. Organize classroom materials at the end of the school year

The last few weeks of a school year includes packing up classrooms for the summer, collecting books and devices, and organizing materials for the next year. Copilot can create checklists or reminders for end-of-school-year tasks like these and offer suggestions that you might not even consider. For example:

You are a high school media specialist who checks out technology to administrators and educators. Write a checklist of the 3 most important things to do before returning each of the following devices: document camera, tablet, digital projector, games, and wires. Make each device a section heading and use bulleted lists for the content. Write the checklists so that the content is easily understood by people with varying levels of technological expertise.

Another way to use Copilot when you are organizing classroom materials is to ask for suggestions for efficient ways to declutter and prepare your classroom for the next school year.

4. Plan an end-of-school-year celebration

Many schools celebrate major milestones like the start of summer or moving from lower grades to higher grades with a party or ceremony. Copilot can be your personal planner and assist with brainstorming ideas for end-of-school-year events, awards ceremonies, or virtual gatherings. It can even suggest ways to be more inclusive in areas you might not have considered, like food options in the prompt below.

You are a guidance counselor in charge of helping rising eighth-grade students transition from middle school to high school. Draft a letter to middle school teachers that shares the biggest differences between middle school and high school. Include paragraphs on class schedules, touring the high school, meeting educators, extracurricular activities, and summer reading books. The letter should be written in a formal, conversational tone.

Whether you are creating invitations, planning activities, or drafting speeches, Copilot can be your creative collaborator.

5. Develop transition materials at the end of the school year

When students enter elementary school or move to middle or high school, everyone involved in the transition needs to know how to prepare for this change. Students need to know what to expect, families need to know how to support their children, and current educators need to provide relevant information. Copilot can help create transition materials so that everyone stays informed using a prompt like this example:

You can also use Copilot to write welcome letters, tips for success, or information about what to expect in the upcoming year.

6. Streamline parent communication at the end of the school year

Copilot can help you create templates for parent-teacher conferences at the end of the school year, as well as student progress updates, and letters to families. For example, you can ask Copilot to create a message to families about signing up for conferences with the following prompt.

You are a high school math teacher who teaches introductory algebra. Write a letter to families about parent-teacher conferences. Include an introductory paragraph that thanks families for their ongoing support and paragraphs about what will happen during the conferences, why conferences are important, who should attend, and how to prepare for the meeting. Conclude the letter with a paragraph about how to sign up for a conference slot. Write the letter using an approachable, informal tone.

Microsoft Copilot is a versatile AI tool for educators that adapts to your specific needs. To learn more about Microsoft’s AI solutions and resources, check out Smart learning: AI resources every educator should know and the  AI for educators learning path on Microsoft Learn. Most importantly, enjoy the end of the school year with your students and the time you saved by using Copilot. 

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26 Best End of Year Teacher Gifts That Get Top Marks

These thoughtful and practical gift ideas are sure to let your child's teacher know how much you appreciate their work!

Country Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?

We talked to teachers of all different grades and backgrounds to get their intel on what gifts they actually want from parents. And while responses for the best gifts varied, the two they don't want were heard loud and clear: "Just not any of the cheesy teacher stuff," and "Hate coffee mugs," were two answers I heard over and over again. No more coffee mugs or cheesy things — noted! Below, we've rounded up their top suggestions on what makes a teacher gift worthy of top marks.

More ways to spoil a teacher in your life:

• 45 Gifts for Teachers Gifts to Thank the Educator in Your Life
• Gifts for Her for Every Occasion
• The Best Gifts for Men He'll Actually Use

Amazon.com Gift Card

After talking to teachers of all different grades, there was one resounding answer they all agreed with when it comes to the perfect gift: a gift card. Whether your teacher is your best friend or you didn't get to them as well as you'd hoped, you can rest assured that they'll make plenty of use out of an Amazon gift card.

Fill-In-The-Blank Teacher Thank You Cards

Words of appreciation mean the world to teachers. It's one thing to hear a "thank you" from a parent, but hearing it from a student is twice as sweet. These cards were designed for even the littlest kids to contribute to the thank you note. Even if Mom or Dad needs to write the note, your little scholar can still help color!

Large Teacher Planner

This planner was designed specifically for teachers, and so many we talked to love them. It's especially great for middle and high school teachers that have to balance a period/block style schedule.

Personalized Teacher Pencil Sign

A personalized gift is never a bad idea! For an extra-special touch, have your little one write their name and school year along with a sweet note on the back of this sign. Every day his teacher will see it and remember the importance of what he or she does.

Rifle Paper Co. Garden Party Tackle Box

Teachers may get plenty of supplies for the kids like pencils, paper, and paints throughout the year, but chances are slim that they get anything for themselves. This tackle box is set with tons of items she'll use all the time, including push pins, binder clips, a notepad, and more.

Personalized Stationery Notepad

Teachers send a lot of notes, whether it's down the hall to the principal or home with a student. This personalized notepad isn't just cute, it'll also save her a little bit of time since she won't have to sign each and every note. Every second counts when you're responsible for kiddos!

Personalized Rainbow Weekly Notepad

Her week is probably filled to the brim with activities for her students, lesson plans, and personal obligations. Give her a helping hand with a weekly planner like this. It'll make keeping track of her day so much easier if everything is just a glance away on her desk.

Personalized Cabana Stripe Beach Towel

Take it from the daughter of a teacher: summers are for vacation time and relaxation. Odds are, she's got plans to fill her days with trips to the beach, pool, lake, or any other body of water this summer. Start the season off right with a sweet personalized towel she can take along!

Dual Compartment Lunch Bag

The teachers I spoke to recommended a new lunch box to start the next school year fresh. This one has dual compartments, so she can store snacks in the top part and her lunch in the bottom. Bonus points if you have your child write her a sweet note to hide inside. She'll appreciate the surprise next year!

FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Many teachers we spoke to mentioned how some days they don't have a free second to go get a glass of water. Having an insulated water bottle that can hold a decent amount can be such a life-saver on those extra-busy days!

It's crazy to think about, but each and every teacher your child has is making an impact on who they'll one day become. Remind your teacher of just how important she is with this sentimental bookmark she'll see every day.

Electric Mug Warmer

He doesn't need another mug, but there's a good chance he'll probably love a mug warmer to keep those cups of coffee piping hot.

Key Ring Holder

She's probably juggling a lot — figuratively and literally! Give her a helping hand with this useful key ring. It can easily slip up her wrist if she's carrying boxes of books or supplies and keep her hands-free with her classroom keys within quick reach.

Spafinder Gift Card

You probably don't know if she likes manicures or pedicures, or which salon she frequents, but you do know one thing for sure: she's earned some relaxation time. A Spafinder gift card can be redeemed at tons of different places ( see all locations here ) for a variety of different services, so she can pick exactly what she wants.

DoorDash Gift Card

Surprising your child's teacher with food can be tough, especially with allergies, preferences, and intolerances to consider. Gifting them a DoorDash gift card takes the guesswork out of it! They can order whatever they want — lunch is on you.

Teacher Stamps

Constantly writing "Good job!" "Needs work," and "Sign and return" can get exhausting after a while. This stamp set will give those tired hands a break by doing the work for her! It includes eight common teacher-isms.

Why You're the Best Teacher Ever Book

If your child is drawing a blank on what to write in a card to her teacher, then get this fill-in-the-blank journal. It over 100 prompts to fill out, most suited for one-word answers. It's meaningful yet simple, aka the perfect gift for little ones!

Because I Had a Teacher

Teachers have a tough time not tearing up when they read this sweet book. If they ever doubt the impact they have on a child's life, one read over this and all of it will fade away.

Retractable Lanyard

Teachers live by their lanyards. Everything from classroom keys to ID cards to daily itineraries live on them, so it's safe to say they get a lot of use. Starting the new year with a fresh lanyard will be just the pick-me-up your teacher needs to start back in a few months.

Custom Book Stamp

Ask any teacher and they'll tell you: things mysteriously disappear from the classroom as the year goes on, and books are not immune. This custom stamp will help your teacher and future parents keep track of what books need to be returned to school and what can stay home. The gift that keeps on giving!

Hannah Jones is the Commerce Editor for Country Living. Her eye is always on the next up-and-coming products to include in gift guides and she's ready to test everything from dog beds to garden tools for product reviews. When she’s not scoping out the latest and greatest items on the market, you can find her hanging with her two rescue dogs.

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End of Year School Party Ideas... with Recipes!

No matter the age, help kids celebrate the start of summer with these end-of-year school party ideas.

When you’re trying to come up with end of year school party ideas, sometimes tradition is the way to go. 

My mom would always let me celebrate the end of the year with the biggest bowl of ice cream I could imagine. Sometimes this took the form of a gargantuan homemade sundae , heaped with toppings and drizzled with chocolate syrup . Other years, we went out for banana splits. 

But there’s also something to be said for something unique, especially if you’re marking the end of the school year with a party. Here are a dozen food-centric end of year school party ideas that can be easily adapted to any age, so the kids in your life can enjoy a celebration that adequately represents their joy at summer’s onset.

1. Backyard Camping with S’mores

This idea works best for a smaller group — maybe just your own children, or one or two besties each. Hopefully where you live, mosquitos aren’t in full force and any cicadas offer a dull background thrumming rather than a roar. 

What better way to welcome the summer than to embrace the outdoors and be a little more relaxed with bedtime? 

S’mores are the perfect backyard firepit treat, but you could also complete the experience with a grilled dinner . 

2. Pizza Party

You can’t go wrong with pizza. Obviously ordering delivery is the easiest route, and may be exactly what you need after a long school year. But depending on the kids’ ages, consider a build-your-own pizza party where guests can top the pizza with their own selections. 

If it were me, I’d use store-bought pizza dough to save time, but allow the kids to roll it out themselves. Simplify the process and allow for maximum creativity by making English muffin pizzas , creating more little blank canvases to decorate and less fuss if something turns out terribly.

3. Cookie Pizza

Oh, and speaking of pizza — have you ever made cookie pizza?! We’re talking a gigantic circular chocolate chip cookie on a pizza tray, topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

There was no bigger hit in my childhood home, and it’s still a celebratory favorite. Cookie pizza is incredibly easy to make, especially if you use store-bought cookie dough to save time and mess. It’s exactly the kind of indulgent decadence that makes a run-of-the-mill children’s party into something they’ll rave about all season.

Similar but different — younger kids would love these Cookie Monster brownies !

4. Pool Party

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t grow up with a pool and I don’t have one now.

But having a hookup is crucial for summertime. As a kid, I relied on a neighbor. As a college student, I crashed any pool I could find, sometimes hopping a fence if needed. 

As a twentysomething, invariably found myself at an apartment complex’s pool, generally linked to a friend. And now as an adult, I’m not sure my friends realize just how much I’m planning to take advantage of their backyard digs.

If you don’t have a community pool, sprayground, or somewhere similar to dip in, you could even celebrate the start of summer by booking a one-night hotel staycation with the kids to let them enjoy room service and practice their cannonball.

That said, my first choice for a pool party, if at all possible, involves somewhere popsicles can drip down your knuckles, hot dogs seem to be in endless supply, and a cooler full of “spicy water” (AKA seltzer) sits nearby.

5. Cruise Around the World

I’ve never been on a cruise, and some of the videos I see on TikTok are convincing me that I never need to.

Still, the activity remains incredibly popular, and it can be alluring for kids, too. What if you recreated the concept of a cruise on land, without being trapped on an expensive floating pollution machine with screaming tots?

Here’s the idea — create different stations that represent various countries where your “cruise ship” is going to dock. Plan out a few different destinations with distinct food offerings, and let your little ones set sail!

For example, maybe you drop an anchor in Puerto Rico and enjoy some sorullitos de maiz or panetela de guayaba before cruising over for some Jamaican jerk chicken . Continue your Caribbean cruise with some crispy chicken sheet pan tacos or Mexican corn in a cup .

Complete the vibe with some virgin piña coladas !

6. Sleepover Party and Breakfast Bar

The sleepover party part is pretty straightforward and was certainly my preferred kind of celebration as a kid. You can pair this idea with pretty much any other on this list really easily to keep the fun going, and may be particularly beneficial if you’re a grandparent or rich auntie who’s taken their kin in for a summer kickoff weekend.

Make the experience extra memorable with a build-your-own- breakfast bar, especially if you’re trying to entertain multiple kids (or a party full of them). Think fun toppings or additions to waffles or pancakes in particular, but this could also look like a cereal bar with a bunch of different options.

For special occasions, my mom would implement this plan, but upgrade the experience even more by making crepes . I distinctly remember my sister asking for this regularly when her friends would sleep over, and I’d be one of the beneficiaries of her plan. We’d slather the crepes with Nutella , fruit, powdered sugar, and more, delighting in the decadent treat.

Are Saturday morning cartoons still a thing in the streaming era? Because that’s the only missing ingredient.

7. Ice Cream Party

Speaking of sweets,  ice cream socials were the only kind of school party that ever interested me. If you’re organizing a gathering on school grounds, this and pizza are really the only ways to go. And as mentioned, a magnificent towering helping of ice cream was always my favorite way to end the school year. 

Create an experience similar to those froyo bars that proliferated around the country a decade ago with endless toppings. You might have to mop Oreo dust out of every crack in your kitchen, but hey, this is a once-annual event! Roll with it.

Related — you could also try making skillet brownies and topping them with ice cream.

8. Movie Night

I planned to reference the Ramones’ Rock & Roll High School movie here, but that probably just makes me sound too much like the aging punk I am. 

Instead, something on Disney+ is probably more what you need. Maybe the full Taylor Swift Eras set, or Coco ?

What differentiates this from a normal weekend? Combining it with a sleepover party with friends is certainly one route. Another would be to set up an outdoor showing if possible (or even go to a drive-in theater and bring treats from home).

You can also upgrade the experience with the food, of course. Consider making Nerds popcorn , Oreo popcorn , or Nutella popcorn to delight the kids in your life. Make their eyes bulge with homemade Twix candy bars or another memorable dessert like chocolate cheesecake pudding .

9. Beach Party

Anything that evokes the season to come will be an instant hit. Unless you live incredibly close to a coast, bringing the beach to you may be the best option.

Cover the floor and couch with beach blankets and put a beach-view screensaver on the TV. Or take the party outside and play the sound of waves over a portable speaker. Give each kid a pair of shades at the door, and set up a sand art station.

Stock a cooler with Capri-Suns , freeze popsicles together, or tell everyone to wear swimsuits and let them run through a sprinkler. 

10. Backyard Cookout

Nothing says summer quite like a cookout . The smell of charcoal and fresh summer air mingle to tell us the evils of standardized testing and homework are behind us (for now). 

Depending on when your school year ends, this may be your first outdoor dinner of the year, or at least the first time you fired up the grill and realized you were out of propane.

Make your kids’ favorite meal, or try something new, like cilantro lime grilled shrimp or grilled pineapple with mascarpone . If you’ve got picky eaters on your hands, grilled meatballs are probably safe, or you can always stick to burgers and dogs. 

It’s less about what you’re making and more about the vibe — carefree, relaxed, and unaware of the clock.

11. Cookie Decorating Party

Any dessert decorating is generally going to go over well with kids, from the aforementioned cookie pizza to a gingerbread house. So why not let your kid and their classmates decorate a couple dozen cookies ?

You could cut sugar cookies into summery shapes like a sun or a wave, offer frosting in school colors, or test their penmanship by attempting to write messages like “School’s out!” or “Vacation mode” on top (depending on their ages). 

You could even turn it into a Great British Baking Show -style blind competition.

12. Picnic Party

What differentiates this from a backyard cookout? Nothing if you’re lazy.

But it doesn’t take much to kickstart a child’s imagination. Maybe it’s a couple of props like a picnic basket, checkered blanket, and sitting on the ground. Or maybe you make the effort to go somewhere out of the ordinary, like a local park or a campsite.

Better yet, switch up the food and let them decide as much as possible. Are they old enough to appreciate a meat and cheese spread? Do they want to have a tea party with friends and pretend they’re part of the Bridgerton universe? Would they prefer to eat homemade sushi or a burrito bowl from Chipotle ?

It doesn’t really matter, as long as they’re happy.

Eric Ginsburg is the Editor of Food Fanatic. He's served as an editor at three newspapers and written for a wide range of publications, including Bon Appétit, Serious Eats, Wine Enthusiast, Southern Living, and Eater Carolinas. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Follow him on Instagram .

Eric Ginsburg is the Editor of Food Fanatic. He's served as an editor at three newspapers and written for a wide range of publications, including Bon Appétit, Serious Eats, Wine Enthusiast, Southern Living, and Eater Carolinas. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Follow him on Instagram @eric_ginsburg.

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